A crowd gathers around a overturned car after a powerfull explosion ripped through the crowd gathered during a military parade organized by Islamist group Hamas to celebrate Israel's pullout from Gaza.(AFP photo)

    GAZA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 19 Palestinians were killedand 85 injured when an explosive-packed car blew up during a rallyorganized by the militant group Hamas on Friday in Jabalia refugeecamp in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian interior ministrysaid.

    Thousands of Hamas activists and supporters took part in anarmed parade to celebrate the Israeli withdrawal from the GazaStrip last week after 38 years of military occupation.

    Ismael Haneya, a senior Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, toldthe crowds who were waving Hamas green flags that the Palestiniansshould continue their armed struggle in order to force Israel outof the rest of the occupied territories.

    As soon as Haneya finished his speech, a convoy of cars andjeeps carrying Hamas militants started marching through thechanting crowds, and then a huge explosion suddenly occurred.

    Hamas leaders and witnesses said that an Israeli pilotlessaircraft fired missiles at Hamas cars, while Palestinian interiorministry said that first indications suggested the blast wascaused by bombs and homemade rockets packed into one of the carsand an Israeli army spokesman denied any Israeli role in theexplosion.

    Following the explosion, dozens of ambulances rushed to thesite, where remains of bodies and spots of blood were seen on theground, while the wounded, most of them children, were moaning.

    Palestinian medics at Kamal Odwan and al-Awda hospitals saidthat at least 19 Palestinians were killed and 85 others injured,many of them in serious conditions.

A Palestinian boy is wheeled into a hospital in Gaza City after he was wounded by a powerfull explosion that ripped through a crowd gathered for a military parade organized by Islamist group Hamas to celebrate Israel's pullout from Gaza.(AFP photo)

    Tawfiq Abu Khousa, spokesman of the ministry of interior, saidthat the Palestinian security forces are investigating thecircumstances of the explosion.

    Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told reporters that he saw theIsraeli reconnaissance drone firing four missiles at a convoy ofcars participating in the parade.

    "Israel would pay a heavy price for this crime," said Abu Zuhri,vowing a revenge.

    On Wednesday, leaders of 13 Palestinian factions, includingHamas, agreed with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to end thearmed parades in the Palestinian streets by Saturday.

    The latest blast took place only hours after Islamic Jihadmilitants in Gaza Strip fired several Qassam rockets at Israel,causing no injuries or damage.

    Israeli soldiers killed early Friday three Palestinianmilitants from Al-Quds Brigades of Islamic Jihad in the West Banktown of Tulkarm, drawing strong condemnation from the Palestinianresistance group. Enditem