A Hamas member was killed late Monday in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian hospital officials said. Israel denied any involvement in the incident.
Hamas said three of its gunmen died in the blast near the town of Beit Hanoun, and blamed an Israeli attack. But hospital officials said one of the casualties was severely hurt rather than killed.
Warlier on Monday, Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that the recent escalation in rocket and mortar fire from Gaza Strip "stems from Hamas' failure to impose its will on rejectionist groups - the popular committees and jihadi organizations. ... I advise Hamas in Gaza to weigh its steps in advance rather than drowning in crocodile tears afterward should they force us to act."
