JERUSALEM – An explosion in the southern Gaza Strip killed fourPalestinians on Saturday, the local health ministry said.

Medics at the scene in the Rafah area said it was caused by an Israeli tankshell.

But an Israeli military spokesman said the army was not involved. “We haveno knowledge of any Israeli strike in the area,” he said.

Local residents at the hospital morgue identified the four dead men asmembers of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. Islamic Jihad didnot immediately confirm the men were members.