Hamas says six of its member terrorists have been killed in an explosion on Saturday night in the central Gaza Strip.

Gaza media reported the explosion was a “work accident,” meaning the terrorists were killed when explosives they were dealing with went off.

A statement from Hamas called the incident a “deplorable Zionist crime” perpetrated against its fighters.

“During a complicated security and intelligence operation conducted by Qassam Brigades to investigate a serious and a grave security incident conducted by the Zionist enemy against Palestinian resistance, a deplorable crime took place against our Mujahideen in the area of Zawayda in central Gaza Strip,” it said.

An Israeli military spokesman declined to comment on the incident, although a more junior official had earlier denied the army was involved.

Earlier, a group of Palestinians breached the border fence with Israel and briefly entered its territory.

It came a day after Palestinians staged a sixth weekly mass protest on the border.

(YWN / AP)