The cease-fire agreement between Fatah and Hamas, putting a stop to the internecine fighting that has characterized the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, collapsed yesterday, a mere two days after it was signed. At least six Palestinians were killed in the fighting between the two factions, and more than 60 others were injured.

Also last night, three Qassam rockets were launched against the western Negev - no injuries or damage was reported.

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The head of the Egyptian security delegation in the Gaza Strip, General Burhan Hamad, has led the mediating efforts between the two factions. In an unusual move, Hamad yesterday blamed Hamas for the resumption of fighting.

The presumed incident that sparked a renewed cycle of violence in the Gaza Strip occured when Hamas Executive Force gunmen attacked two trucks, which they believe held weapons being delivered from Egypt for use by the Presidential Guard, loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

The Egyptian general said that "the side that attacked the trucks [Hamas] is the one responsible for the bloodshed."

The attack against the trucks that crossed into the Gaza Strip at the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is under Israeli control, occurred at a time when Hamas and Fatah delegations were holding talks at the Egyptian delegation's offices in Gaza.

Executive Force fighters attacked the trucks with machine gun fire, and rockets, as they passed near the Al-Bureij refugee camp. Two of the Force 17 (another name for the Presidential Guard) were killed in the attack.

A long battle ensued, in which four more Palestinians were killed. Five of the dead were members of Fatah-affiliated security organizations: Three were members of the Presidential Guard - Arafat Halibi al-Muslah, 24, Murad al-Tala, 23, and Muhammad Hatib; one came from the ranks of the National Security service - Akrami Ghnein, 23; and another from Military Intelligence - Osama al-Sinani, 25.

The identity of the sixth dead has still not been ascertained, but it is believed to be a child.

Following the attack against the trucks, the situation rapidly deteriorated in most parts of the Gaza strip.

In the northern strip, Hamas gunmen attacked a Military Intelligence headquarters and set it on fire.

In central Gaza strip, heavy fighting took place close to the headquarters of the Preventive Security service, in Tel al-Hawwe, and mortar shells landed close to Abbas' office in the Gaza Strip.

The hospitals in the Gaza Strip received more than 70 people seeking medical attention as a result of the fighting.

Senior Fatah officials said that Hamas was not interested in a cease-fire, and while representatives of the two factions were holding talks on the formation of a national unity government, members of the military wing of the organization were carrying out attacks.

Hamas countered by arguing that the "revolutionary wing" (hinting at Mohammed Dahlan, their Fatah arch-enemy in the Gaza Strip) in Fatah is continuing in its attempts at a coup against the Hamas government.

A senior Hamas source claimed that the weapons were bought with U.S. funds given to Abbas' office, and was delivered to Egypt on a ship of one of the Gulf states, where the cargo was unloaded at the port of Nuweiba. From there, the arms were delivered by truck to the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas source said that the deliveries began on Tuesday and there were many more trucks waiting to cross over.

Both Israeli and Fatah sources have rejected these claims.