Gaza, January 12, 2010 (Pal Telegraph) - A Palestinian fighter, Thaer Khader,21, from the armed wing of Hamas, Ez Ed Din Al Qassam, has been killed in an accidental bomb explosion in the northern Gaza Strip. Three other members were also injured in the blast, Ez Ed Din Al Qassam said in a statement.

Hamas had initially said the explosion was caused by Israeli shelling, but an Israeli military spokeswoman denied any involvement in the blast

The IOF denied the reports and said the army was not familiar with the incident and did not carry out any attack in the area.

Israel said Palestinian fighters other than Hamas were responsible for the recent rash of cross-border rocket and mortar attacks, and urged Hamas to rein them in.

Ehud Barak, Israel's defence minister, urged Hamas on Monday to rein in other armed groups in the territory, or face Israeli action.

"Hamas is well deterred from trying another direct collision with Israel. I hope that they will take over - or else," Barak, asked if a new Gaza war was possible, said.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official, said the Palestinian attacks were carried out in response to "continued Israeli aggression".

Photo Mohammed Asad