Hamas still blames Israel for Monday's "work accident"

Usually, Hamas admits its work accidents a day or two after they occur, putting out vague press releases about how a brave mujahadeen was martyred while doing a glorious task of Jihad.

Monday's massive explosion in Deir al Balah is different. Possibly because (contrary to an initial report) no one was killed, and possibly because of the large number of injuries, Hamas is still blaming Israel for the blast, against all evidence and common sense. From the Al Qassam English webpage:

In the recent period in Gaza Strip, the Zionist entity attempts to create a state of confusion through satanic plans.

The last attack, which took place in Deir al-Balah camp in the Central Area of Gaza strip at dawn on Monday, 02/08/2010, came in the same context.

We confirm that what happened is a cowardly and planned work, and it is a result of a Zionist security action. The attack aims to assassinate field commanders of Al Qassam Brigades.

It should be noted that this ground targeting comes in the context of a series of Zionist barbarism against our members and other resistance factions' members through variety methods.

Finally, these cowardly actions are exposed to us and the Zionist entity bears all the consequences of its stupidity against the Palestinian people.

The PCHR is not buying this story:

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the government in the Gaza Strip to investigate the circumstances of an explosion that occurred in Deir al-Balah refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, which left 58 injuries, including 13 children and 9 women, 7 houses uninhabitable and 30 others damaged. PCHR calls further for publishing the results of such investigations.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, and testimonies of eyewitnesses, at approximately 01:20 on Monday, 02 August 2010, a heavy explosion rocked Deir al-Balah refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The explosion occurred in a 100-square-meter, uninhabited house. As a result of the explosion, 58 Palestinians living in the surroundings, including 13 children and 9 women, were injured, and a pregnant woman miscarried.

Additionally, 7 houses were destroyed and rendered uninhabitable, and another 30 ones were damaged. According to eyewitnesses, a red glow came from the house before an explosion rocked the area. After the explosion, activists of the Palestinian resistance arrived in the area and surrounded the affected house. The Palestinian police also arrived in the area and prevented people from reaching the house. Resistance activists collected from the house shrapnel of the explosive devices and transported them in a car.

The 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) issued a press release on Tuesday morning, 03 August 2010, stating that: "We confirm that what happened… resulted from a Zionist security operation intended to assassinate field leaders in the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades." It further stated that "such ground targeting is part of Zionist operations."

In light of information available to PCHR through field investigations, and according to testimonies of eyewitnesses that saw transportation of bombs from the house, there are reasons to suspect that the explosion was coming from inside the house and occurred for no apparent reason, similar to some incidents in the past. Internal explosion occurred in the past in houses amidst densely populated areas, because of mistakes in manufacturing, bad storage of bombs or other reasons, which caused many fatalities among civilians and destroyed houses.

Once again Hamas is shown to be lying. Why the media still report Hamas statements as if they have any credibility is a basic question that every editor needs to answer.