Two Palestinian militants were killed in an explosion in eastern Gaza city, sources said on Tuesday.

The sources identified the dead as Mohammed al-Nawati and AhmadAbu Ghanima. The two were members of Hamas' military wing, Ezz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades.

The powerful blast, which was overheard in Gaza city half an hour before midnight, has also wounded five people, according to medical sources.

Hamas, which controls Gaza, did not report the causes behind the explosion but other sources close to the Islamic movement said the two dead used to produce weapons for Hamas and could have been killed in a work accident.

Hamas has maintained a unilateral truce with Israel and tried to impose the lull on other armed groups. On Monday, several factions said they were not part of the ceasefire which Hamas interior minister Fathi Hamas said it had been reached in agreement with all factions.

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2009)