Seven killed in Gaza explosion

Seven people have been killed in a powerful explosion which flattened a house in the northern Gaza Strip.

Four people were killed in the explosion in Beit Lahiya Four people were killed in the explosion in Beit Lahiya

An infant girl and a Hamas official were among those killed in the explosion in town of Beit Lahiya, about a mile from the Israeli border.

Ambulances rushed to the scene, and residents of nearby homes brought over shovels and bulldozers to help dig people out of the rubble.

After blaming Israel and unleashing a barrage of rockets and mortars, Hamas indicated the blast was accidental, not an Israeli attack.

By then Israel had carried out an airstrike aimed at a Gaza rocket squad, killing a Palestinian.

Major Avital Leibovich, an Israeli army spokeswoman, said the military was not operating in the area at the time.

Announcing an investigation of the blast, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida said results would be made public.

The statement was taken as Hamas acknowledged that the blast was probably accidental, not an Israeli attack. Dozens of militants have been killed while handing explosives in recent years.

The violence threatened to jeapordise Egyptian ceasefire efforts. A key Israeli envoy, Amos Gilad, is trying to wrap up a deal.

The government and security officials said Israel was willing to give the Egyptian mediation efforts about two more weeks to succeed, but if those efforts fail, it would invade Gaza.

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