GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, (AFP) — A militant with the armed wing of Gaza’s ruling Hamas movement died in Gaza City on Wednesday after the car he was travelling in exploded, Palestinian medical sources said.

There was no accusation against Israel, prompting suspicions it was a “work accident” — the euphemism for the accidental detonation of explosives held by militants.

Medics named the victim as Ayman al-Shufra, a member of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, and said two other Palestinians who had also been in the car with him were wounded.

The blast, which took place before dawn, hit an SUV in the Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood of western Gaza City, critically wounding Shufra who died several hours later.

The Israeli military said it was not immediately aware of such an incident.