Palestinian dies in Islamic Jihad tunnel in Gaza 'accident'

GAZA CITY — The Gaza Health Ministry says a Palestinian was killed in an accident while working in a "military tunnel" used by Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group.

It said Ahmed Mayyat was killed and three others were injured yesterday without elaborating.

Mayyat was a local contractor hired by the Islamic Jihad to remove a bomb from the tunnel, the group said. Local media reported he also worked for several international aid organizations in Gaza on a freelance basis.

Gaza militants have used underground tunnels to attack Israelis during the 2014 war.

Israel is building a massive underground barrier along the Gaza border to defend against the tunnels.