Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- At least two Palestinians were killed on Tuesday morning in an explosion in a training camp for Hamas armed wing in southern Gaza Strip, security and medical sources said.

    "The paramedics evacuated two dead bodies and two wounded persons and we expect more casualties because the blast destroyed the whole facility," said Muawia Hassanien of the Health Ministry ambulance department.

    The training center is located in a former Israeli settlement in Khan Younis city in southern Gaza Strip. Security sources confirmed there was training when the explosion occurred.

    The sources ruled out that the blast was caused by an Israeli raid since Hamas and Israel are going through an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that took effect in the Hamas-controlled Gaza on June 19.

    Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in September 2005, a few months before Hamas won parliamentary elections and formed a government.

    Since Israel refused to deal with Hamas government, most of the projects to rebuild the empty former settlement was halted and the large spaces turned into training camps for the different Palestinian militant groups.

    In June 2007, Hamas completely took over the coastal Strip after routing security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.