Hamas, Fatah fighting kills eight
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Heavily armed Hamas militiamen’s efforts to break up anti-government protests on Sunday sparked gunbattles across the Gaza Strip that killed eight people in the worst internal Palestinian violence since Hamas took power.
Militants from the opposition Fatah group retaliated by torching the Palestinian Cabinet building in Ramallah, attacking Hamas offices throughout the West Bank, kidnapping a Hamas minister and threatening a mass strike. The spasm of violence dampened already fading hopes for the creation of a national unity government between the two groups that could end crippling economic sanctions.
The fighting continued throughout the day and sent schoolchildren and other civilians in downtown Gaza City fleeing for cover.
“This is forbidden in Islam, we are in the holy month of Ramadan,” said Majed Badawi, 33, who escaped after his car was caught in the crossfire. “It’s a shame on Hamas, who call themselves real Muslims, and a shame of Fatah as well. Why are they fighting and over what? We are victims because of both of them.”
Late Sunday, Interior Minister Said Siyam ordered the Hamas militia off the streets.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called on Egyptian diplomats in Gaza to hold a meeting with security commanders on both sides to resolve the violence, Egyptian officials said.
Violence between Fatah and Hamas loyalists plagued Gaza throughout the spring, but largely ended when Israel launched an offensive here in late June after Hamas-linked militants captured an Israeli soldier.
Israel’s army chief, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, said Sunday the military was considering another ground offensive. Hours later, Israeli tanks, bulldozers and troops moved into northern Gaza. The army said the operation was aimed at preventing rocket fire.
Looking to a possible new Israeli offensive, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas, urged Palestinians to end the internal violence “in the face of a serious escalation from the occupation forces.”
Haniyeh spoke with President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, by telephone and called for joint action to end the fighting, Haniyeh’s office said.
But in a televised speech, Haniyeh also defended the Hamas militiamen, saying they acted lawfully in trying to break up the protests.
Abbas, who was in Jordan, ordered an investigation.
“These confrontations have crossed the red line, which we have avoided crossing for four decades,” he said in a speech on Palestinian TV.
Abbas also criticized Haniyeh. “The prime minister and his Cabinet should take responsibility for preserving the law,” he said.
He ordered the security officers to abandon their protests and return to their posts and called on the Hamas militia to leave the streets.
Israel and the West, which view Hamas as a terror group, cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority after Hamas took power, making it nearly impossible for the new government to pay its 165,000 workers.