Region | Palestinian Territories
Hamas says deadly Gaza blast an accident
Hamas said on Friday that an explosion that killed eight Palestinians in the Gaza Strip was an accident that occurred as fighters prepared to carry out a bomb attack.
- Agencies
- Published: 15:10 June 13, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- Palestinians carry a wounded man after an explosion in the town of Beit Lahiya.
Gaza: Hamas said on Friday that an explosion that killed eight Palestinians in the Gaza Strip was an accident that occurred as fighters prepared to carry out a bomb attack.
Hamas initially blamed Thursday's explosion on an Israeli air strike, but the Israeli military denied involvement.
The blast flattened the two-storey house of Hamas bomb-maker Ahmed Hamouda in the northern town of Beit Lahiya.
Six Hamas fighters, a four-month-old girl and a civilian were killed. One of the six men died of his wounds on Friday.
"An error occurred and led to the explosion and they were martyred," said Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Izz El Deen Al Qassam Brigade, Hamas's armed wing.
The brigade said in a statement the fighters were putting the final touches to what they called a "special jihadi mission".
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