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Palestinians gather at the scene of a large explosion that killed a top Islamic Jihad militant and seven others late Friday. (AP) Last update - 14:47 19/02/2008 Islamic Jihad, Palestinian rights groups at odds over deadly Gaza blast By Reuters Tags: Palestinians, Islamic Jihad  Islamic Jihad criticized Palestinian human rights groups on Tuesday for saying they found no evidence that the Israel Defense Forces was responsible for a blast that killed eight people, including a commander of the group, in Gaza last week. "There is no evidence to confirm that the explosion was caused by rocket or aerial bombardment by Israeli occupation forces, as mentioned in some media outlets," the Palestine Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and al-Mezan Center for Human Rights said in a joint statement on Monday. "It is more likely that it was an internal explosion - the circumstances of which are unclear as of yet," the two groups said. Advertisement Senior Islamic Jihad commander Ayman al-Fayed and seven other people, including his wife and two children, were killed in a blast on Friday that destroyed his home and two other nearby houses in Gaza's al-Bureij refugee camp. "The [human rights groups'] report was politicized and it was aimed at putting pressure on resistance factions and causing confusion," said Abu Ahmed, spokesman for Islamic Jihad. He called on the two groups to "apologize ... and retreat from the attempt to authenticate the fabricated story of the enemy". Some local residents said they believed there had been an air strike on Fayed's home. But other said they heard no aircraft noise or other indications before the explosion. Witnesses said they saw debris among the rubble of what looked like the locally manufactured Qassam rockets that Islamic Jihad and other groups fire at Israeli towns. The IDF denied involvement in the explosion, and Israel has not bombed a house in Gaza since 2006, although it has carried out numerous air strikes on cars carrying militants. Militants in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip also have been killed in accidental explosions and factional fighting. Related articles: Top Islamic Jihad militant, seven others killed in Gaza blast IDF troops kill armed Palestinian assailant on border with central Gaza Nine Qassams hit Negev, one strikes yard of home in Sderot Bookmark to del.icio.us   Intrigue at Heathrow According to the BBC, an IDF general dodged arrest as U.K. police feared shootout. Decency in remission A Ramat Yishai widow is suspected of faking cancer to receive donations.   1.   IJ took a lesson from Hizbollah 14:49  |  William 19/02/08   2.   This is almost funny 14:51  |  RA 19/02/08   3.   Poetic justice. 15:11  |  MaryRose 19/02/08   4.   SHOOT THE MESSENGER 15:12  |  Brant 19/02/08   5.   The Palestinian rights groups 15:26  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 19/02/08   6.   Jihadists should remember: "what goes around, comes around" 15:26  |  Vittorio 19/02/08   7.   Truth is a good thing.... 15:35  |  Lynn 19/02/08   8.   The Gazan ?innocent civilians? 15:49  |  Jean Van Daem 19/02/08   9.   Why isn`t Israel bombing houses? 15:49  |  Ron 19/02/08   10.   Israel must isolate Hamas to the maximum 16:06  |  Stephen. 19/02/08   11.   nonsense 16:06  |  steve from Raleigh 19/02/08   12.   Palestinian Human rights group.... 16:20  |  Avrum 19/02/08   13.   What? This cannot be true!?!? 17:27  |  The Judge 19/02/08   14.   Palestinians using children, women, neighbors as Human Shields 19:36  |  Gina 19/02/08   15.   Pal Human Rights groups - courage under fire 21:09  |  fiona 19/02/08   16.   WHY were Pal children near a "bomb factory"?Where is the protest 21:16  |  PETER SM 19/02/08   17.   its the occupation,,,,no wait !,,,,, 21:46  |  alan 19/02/08   18.   Can anyone imagine how Gaza could have flourished as the... 00:05  |  bat yam 20/02/08   19.   The rights groups are to be congratulated 00:36  |  Anup 20/02/08   20.   the scandal here is that israel does *not* bomb `houses` 00:38  |  frenz 20/02/08   21.   For reasons unknown 01:53  |  Mark Lincoln 20/02/08   22.   Frenz what are you babbling about? 01:54  |  Mark Lincoln 20/02/08   23.   Political - and Ethnic - Nievite... 01:56  |  Shir-El 20/02/08   24.   Can you imagine 04:48  |  Science Fiction 20/02/08   25.   # 10 Stephen. @ Geneve./ Switzerland. 05:06  |  Joseph E . post 1 20/02/08   26.   # 10 Stephen. @ Geneve./ Switzerland. 05:07  |  Joseph E . post 2 20/02/08   27.   Shir-El - the problem with slavery 05:10  |  Mark Lincoln 20/02/08   28.   #9 Read the article again, Ron 05:28  |  Johnboy 20/02/08   29.   To Johnboy # 28 06:44  |  Ron 20/02/08   30.   #29 Nice bit of revisionism there, Ron 08:54  |  Johnboy 20/02/08   31.   #29 You and David Teich attend the same synagogue? 09:07  |  Johnboy 20/02/08

Today Online Abbas aide: PA should declare independence if peace talks fail Responses: 11 Israel still building in settlements despite Olmert's promise Responses: 85 Amira Hass: Israel is stealing Palestinian land, private or not Responses: 6 Uzi Benziman: Olmert thinks peace is a deed done through trickery Responses: 2 Peace-minded residents of Gaza and Sderot share joint blog Responses: 16 Rosner's Domain Does John McCain need Evangelical voters? (WTR) Rosner's Guest(s): Orthodox women want a "seat at the table" Gaza: The Problem Nobody Wants Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? The row over Obama's stance on Israel is a dispute between Jews More Headlines 10:30 PA official: We should declare independence if peace talks fail 09:18 Israel still building in West Bank settlements despite PM's pledge 10:08 ANALYSIS: When it comes to Jerusalem, both sides are right 07:42 Obama sweeps Wisconsin, pushing to 9 straight victories 10:22 MKs to tour Europe, Far East urging stronger action against Iran 03:15 Secular families leave J'lem neighborhood, ultra-Orthodox take over 08:39 Peace-minded residents of Gaza, Sderot blog together online 06:20 Sweden accused of persecuting civil servant for pro-Israel views 04:05 Officials at odds over first planned Arab city since Israel established 07:05 Labor party minister appeals bill 'empowering' rabbinical courts 10:11 Report: IDF general dodged U.K. arrest as police feared shootout 05:41 Business owners in north told to return Lebanon war compensation Previous Editions Select Day 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb 06 feb

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