"Fatal Blast in Gaza: Israel Blames Mishandled Bomb for Palestinian Deaths"

At least five Palestinians were killed and over 20 others were wounded in an explosion near the Israeli-Gaza border during a demonstration organized by Hamas to mark the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. The cause of the blast is unknown, but the Israeli army denied involvement, stating that demonstrators were attempting to throw a bomb over the fence when it detonated prematurely. The protest turned violent, with grenades and explosives being thrown across the border, and the army responding with tear gas. The blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt on Gaza since Hamas took control in 2007 has severely impacted the local economy.