Blast in north Gaza kills two security officers

GAZA (Reuters) – An explosion ripped through a building
used by Palestinian security forces in the northern Gaza Strip
on Tuesday, killing two security officers and wounding three
others, Palestinian security sources said.

The Israeli army said it was not involved in the incident.

Palestinian sources said the explosion took place in the
facility’s command center in the Jabalya refugee camp.

Palestinian security sources initially said an Israeli
artillery shell slammed into the building.

Palestinian security sources later said they were
investigating whether the blast was caused by an explosion
within the building.

The Israeli military has stepped up air strikes against
militants and well as artillery barrages against what it says
are rocket launch sites used by militants.

“We don’t know of any activity in the area, whether that be
of the air force or artillery units,” said an army spokesman.

Israel completed its withdrawal of Jewish settlers and
troops from Gaza last September after 38 years of occupation.