Hamas militant dies in training facility accident

An Islamic Hamas militant was killed on Friday in an accident at one of the training facilities of the movement's armed wing in southern Gaza Strip, medics said.

Ashrad al-Qedra, spokesman of the Gaza Health Ministry told reporters that Hafez Abu Sa'alik, 18, was brought dead to hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions and militant groups established training posts and facilities in various areas in the Gaza Strip aimed at foiling future Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip similar to that in 2014.

However, during this year, 26 militants, most in Hamas armed wing, were killed in accidents during military missions into underground tunnels or in training facilities all over the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, Mahmoud al-Zahar, a senior Hamas leader told a rally in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah to mark the 29-year-anniversary for his movement that al-Qassam Brigades is able to make victory.

"The rifles of al-Qassam Brigades (Hamas armed wing) will be only directed to the occupation but not to the chest of an Egyptian or an Arab," said al-Zahar, who called on Egypt to release four Hamas militants arrested early this year.

He also asserted that the group is able to reach another prisoner swap deal with Israel, referring to the Israeli soldiers missing during the Israeli military offensive waged on the Gaza Strip for 50 days in 2014. Endit