Four Palestinians, including three militants, were killed when their car exploded in the central Gaza Strip today in a blast Palestinian security officials blamed on Israel.
But Israeli military sources denied the car blew up as a result of a helicopter missile strike, tank attack or any other military action.
Security sources said the blast appeared to have been caused when explosives blew up prematurely.
Three of the dead were militants from the Popular Resistance Committees who were in the car during the blast, medics said.
The fourth was a motorcyclist who was driving past at the time of the explosion near the central Gaza Jewish settlement of Netzarim.
The explosion ripped through the car turning it into a pile of smoking wreckage and scattering body parts and metal pieces across Gaza's coastal road.
Palestinian security officials at first said the explosion was the result of an Israeli helicopter missile attack on a black Mercedes-Benz travelling on Gaza's coastal road towards Gaza City. But they later said it was caused by tank shells.
Palestinian witnesses said they saw helicopters flying overhead before the explosion. Israeli helicopters frequently fly over the Gaza Strip.
Israeli helicopter gunships have carried out numerous strikes against militants' cars in Gaza. There have also been numerous incidents when explosives detonated prematurely while being transported.