2 killed in blast at Hamas base
Palestinian security officials report of explosion at a beachfront facility in Gaza Strip. According to initial report, two people killed in incident, one injured. Palestinians say IDF struck in area; Israeli army denies claim
Palestinian security officials reported Thursday of an explosion at a beachfront facility of the militant Hamas organization. According to an initial report, two people were killed in the incident and one was injured.
Palestinians claimed that the facility was attacked by the IDF, but the Israeli army denied striking in the area. Sources in Gaza did not rule out the possibility that the incident was a "work accident".
The blast took place in a Hamas training base, where ammunition and explosives are being held. Hamas members prevented photographers from entering the site.
Earlier Thursday, Palestinian sources in Gaza reported that IDF troops shot dead a 65-year-old Palestinian farmer near the security fence along the border with Israel.
The army denied soldiers had opened fire in the region but said it was still looking into the claim. The farmer is said to have been riding his donkey to tend to his fields, located east of the town of Khan Younis.
Also Thursday, a roadside charge was detonated as an army patrol passed along the border fence, also in the central Gaza area. No injuries were reported in the blast.
A similar attack on an IDF patrol two weeks ago resulted in the deaths of two servicemen.
There were also no injuries in a Wednesday morning attack by Palestinian snipers against Israeli troops conducting engineering works near the border fence in the same area.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
