Gaza City - A Hamas militant died early Friday in an explosion near the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, the radical Islamic movement ruling the strip said.

Hamas in a statement identified the fatality as a 26-year-old member of its armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.

The statement said the cause of the explosion was under "investigation," but residents said it was probably what they call a "work accident" - the accidental detonation of a bomb as it is being handled, prepared or transported by militants.

On Tuesday, an explosive device blew up by accident during training at a Hamas training camp in a former Jewish settlement near Khan Younis, killing two other Hamas militants. (dpa)