Palestinian killed in blast near ruined Gaza airport

Gaza City: A young Palestinian was killed and his brother seriously wounded in an explosion on Saturday near the Gaza Strip's abandoned airport, the health ministry said.

"Naji Khaled Abu Sabla, 21, was killed and his brother Akram, 18, seriously wounded in the face and stomach when an unidentified device blew up in the area of the airport" in southern Gaza, said ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra.

Police suspect it was "a device left behind by the Israelis in the zone, where they make regular incursions", a local security source told AFP.

Israeli forces hit the airport's radar tower in 2001 when Palestinians launched an uprising, forcing it to close down. Further strikes reduced the airport buildings to rubble.