GAZA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian boy was mauled to death by a lion in a private zoo in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday, according to the Hamas-run police force in the territory.
The six-year-old boy Hamada Iqtiet, from the city of Khan Yunis, climbed the fence and reached an opening in the cage before being hit in the head by a lion, according to eyewitnesses and media sources.
The police announced in a press statement a temporary seal-off of the zoo after the incident.
"The police decided to temporarily close the entertainment city 'Asda'a' in Khan Yunis, pending the completion of investigations and taking safety measures in the place," said Ayman Batniji, the police spokesman in Gaza.
The incident is the first known fatality from animals in Gaza's private zoos. ■
