One dead in Gaza blast, Israel denies involvement

GAZA, July 5 (Reuters) An explosion in Gaza City today killed a Palestinian and seriously wounded at least one other person, witnesses and medics said.

Witnesses blamed the blast in Zeitoun, a neighbourhood known as an Islamist Hamas stronghold, on an Israeli air strike but the Israeli military denied involvement.

Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert authorised stepped-up military strikes against Hamas, which runs the Palestinian government, in response to the abduction of a soldier and cross-border rocket fire from Gaza.

Reuters CH GC1618