Man killed in Gaza explosion

An explosion in the southern Gaza Strip today wounded three people and killed a militant as he was returning from firing home-made rockets at Israel, Palestinian officials said.

Palestinian security officials said the explosion was the result of an Israeli airstrike. The Israeli army said it was not involved in the attack.

Palestinian officials identified the man killed in the attack as Khaled Abu Seta, 24, a militant from the Abu Rish Brigades – a small militant group tied to the ruling Fatah movement.

Abu Seta and other militants were on their way back from launching rockets at Israel when the explosion happened, security officials said.

Abu Rish has threatened to take revenge on Israel.

Palestinian militants are routinely killed when their unstable, home-made explosives accidentally detonate.

Israel renewed its policy of targeted killings after a December 5 Palestinian suicide bombing killed five Israelis.

The Israeli army routinely acknowledges its airstrikes.