Blast wounds 3 Palestinian militants in Gaza Strip

GAZA, May 15 (Reuters) An explosion destroyed a Palestinian car in the southern Gaza Strip today and wounded three Islamic Jihad militants, witnesses and medics said.

The explosion occurred near Khan Younis refugee camp. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. An Israeli army spokeswoman had no immediate comment.

Witnesses and medics said a car was destroyed in the blast and three members of the Islamic Jihad group were wounded, okne of them critically. Some of the witnesses said they believed the explosion was caused by an Israeli air strike.

Israel has carried out frequent air strikes in the Gaza Strip against militants it accuses of being behind cross-border rocket attacks.

Yesterday, Israeli troops killed seven Palestinians including a leading Islamic Jihad militant, in the bloodiest fighting in weeks in the occupied West Bank.

REUTERS SY HS2207