Palestinian killed in Gaza explosion - medics

GAZA - A Palestinian was killed on Monday in a Gaza house explosion that witnesses initially said was caused by an Israeli helicopter attack but which Palestinian security sources later said was not a result of an air raid.

The Israeli army said it had carried out no military operations in the area. Palestinian medics said a 17-year-old Palestinian was killed in the blast and his mother and a brother were wounded.

"A mysterious explosion took place inside a house in Beach refugee camp...an investigation has been launched into its causes," a Palestinian security source said.

Other security sources said it appeared the teenager had set off explosives accidentally. It was not immediately clear why explosives were in his possession or if he belonged to a militant group.

Witnesses said Israeli aircraft had mounted about 10 mock air raids in the Gaza City area on Monday, leading to the initial accounts of a helicopter strike.

- REUTERS