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With war over, Fatah members say Hamas sees them as the real danger By Dana Weiler-Polak Tags: Israel, Hamas, Israel News  Israel's operation in Gaza may have ended, but the internal Palestinian fighting is still going strong. According to a Fatah source, Hamas operatives have thus far killed 10 Fatah members and wounded hundreds, fearing that Fatah might try to undermine Hamas' rule in the territory. "When the war began, we started to see a tendency within Hamas to attack our members," said A., a Gaza resident who belongs to Fatah. "They feared that we would exploit the war and were constantly talking about the 'internal danger.' They could be heard saying they were fighting on two fronts, against Israel and Fatah. They were constantly fanning the flames, saying that thousands of Fatah members were planning to come from Egypt to help fight them - which is totally false." Once, after a Fatah member was killed by Israeli fire, "we were marching in procession toward the cemetery when Hamas men fell on the convoy and killed three of our people," A. said. In another case, a group of Fatah members were celebrating the release of one of their comrades from jail when "Hamas men arrived and said we were really celebrating and handing out candies in schadenfreude over Hamas members who had been killed, and once again, they threatened us." Advertisement A. said that Hamas also put large numbers of Fatah members under house arrest. "They went from house to house and told hundreds of people not to go out, and that if they were seen outside, they would shoot them," A. explained said. Moreover, "dozens of people were shot in the legs," and two of them died while awaiting treatment for their injuries. "At least 100 people were shot in the legs for no reason," he claimed. "They killed Isham Najar, a man of 70, in front of his family, just because he is affiliated with Fatah," A. said. "That is also what happened to Ahmed Sagura. He was under house arrest, and when he was found outside, he was shot because his brother is one of the leaders of Fatah in Gaza .... They say that we are the danger, not the Jews, because they [the Jews] come and go, but we are here. We are the real problem." A. said he goes outside as little as possible. "If I go out, I look around carefully to see whether anyone is waiting for me. I try to do everything quickly. We've been living like this for some time and have already learned how to maneuver for ourselves; the fear is mainly for our families and children. Why should they have to pay?" After Israel declared a cease-fire, A. added, Fatah began trying to assess its damages, but every such effort was met by Hamas threats. "Anyone suspected of doing something for his surroundings receives a house call and is warned not to go out. They don't allow us to organize or even to see our people, to see if they need something." Hamas is also keeping humanitarian aid for its own people, A. charged. But A. is not without complaints about his own organization's leadership. "There's a problem because Fatah's senior leadership is trying to sweep this appalling situation under the rug so as not to sabotage the chance of dialogue between us and Hamas. They don't want to escalate the situation and are trying not to let the story get out. So meanwhile, they [Hamas] do as they please without hindrance." Related articles: Obama picks George Mitchell as Mideast envoy 'to make Gaza truce last' Hamas: Obama does not represent change Hamas calls for Fatah reconciliation, vows to continue fighting Israel Sources: Hamas arms smuggling never stopped during IDF op in Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us   Reviving the Mideast U.S envoy to the Mideast is due to arrive in Israel for talks on boosting a Gaza cease-fire. Iranian uranium London Times: Iran's supply of yellow cake may run out within months.   1.   tunnels to palestine 03:33  |  ben 23/01/09   2.   What is Hamas 06:09  |  Commonsense 23/01/09   3.   Ben 06:13  |  Commonsense 23/01/09   4.   Ben 06:40  |  Philippe 23/01/09   5.   to no 1 08:50  |  fish tel-aviv 23/01/09   6.   wt a report? 08:53  |  Jon 23/01/09   7.   Hamas was formed by noble people and martyrs 09:19  |  abu ismail sami 23/01/09   8.   Totally Agree with Ben 09:24  |  Rizwan 23/01/09   9.   Same goals of Hamas and Fatah. 09:26  |  Jean Van Daem 23/01/09   10.   hamas was elected democratically & will win again 09:48  |  matt 23/01/09   11.   Ben re ancient genealogy, "diluted blood" etc. 11:05  |  Ariane 23/01/09   12.   Robin Hood and his merry men 11:48  |  H 23/01/09   13.   divide and rule 13:02  |  sarah 23/01/09   14.   whether you like it or not 15:23  |  Gabriele 23/01/09   15.   2 states for one people! 17:44  |  luis 23/01/09   16.   agree #3, love #7 17:52  |  luis 23/01/09   17.   Abu Ismail Sami.....noble people????? 18:13  |  Maria 23/01/09   18.   H in London, straight line? 19:01  |  fiona 23/01/09   19.   Fatah shouldn`t flatter itself... 19:54  |  laughing out loud 23/01/09   20.   Fatah fears Gaza conflict has put Hamas in the ascendancy 20:53  |  Blackpool Rock 23/01/09   21.   it is really double standards 21:55  |  Antonio da Silva 23/01/09

Read & React UN rights official: Gaza evokes memories of Warsaw Ghetto Responses: 300 Obama: We will aggressively seek lasting Mideast peace Responses: 212 Dutch MP behind film on radical Islam: Decision to prosecute me is political Responses: 133 Israel to approve aid for IDF officers accused of Gaza war crimes Responses: 136 Shashi Tharoor: India watched in envy as Israel attacked Gaza Responses: 74 More Headlines 23:39 Diplomats: Obama's Mideast envoy Mitchell expected next week 17:14 Assad congratulates Hamas on 'victory' over IDF in Gaza 01:05 Will uranium shortage really slow down the Iranian nuclear program? 16:21 Hamas agrees to allow Fatah forces to patrol Rafah crossing 16:34 Egyptian official: Israel achieved all of its military goals in Gaza 23:55 ANALYSIS / The IDF model that failed in Lebanon succeeded in Gaza 21:52 Israel to approve aid for IDF officers accused of Gaza war crimes 22:30 Pope lifts excommunication of bishop who denied Holocaust 13:35 British officials criticize BBC for refusing to air Gaza fundraiser 23:01 Woman found stabbed to death in her apartment in Ashkelon 23:25 Dust storm from North Africa sweeps into Israel 19:20 Man found shot to death in sand dunes south of Holon 09:09 Sarkozy orders French frigate to patrol Gaza coast 10:33 Saudi envoy to U.S.: Obama must not repeat Bush's 'sickening legacy' in Mideast 07:40 Doctors: Many Palestinians in Gaza hospitals in danger of dying from their wounds Previous Editions Select Day 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 19 jan 18 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan

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