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A Fatah supporter covering her face with a Palestinian flag during a Gaza rally to protest 'political arrests' of Fatah members on Thursday. (Reuters)
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Last update - 17:41 11/08/2007
At least 10 wounded in Gaza as top Fatah officials arrested
By News Agencies

At least 10 people were wounded as Hamas militiamen detained 32 Fatah supporters across Gaza, half of them after breaking up a wedding and beating guests with clubs and chairs, Fatah officials and witnesses said Saturday.

The arrests were the largest sweep since Hamas took control of Gaza by force in June. Hamas had promised amnesty to Fatah loyalists and it was not immediately clear whether the arrests late Friday and early Saturday signaled the start of a crackdown on Fatah or were isolated incidents.

He added that the men were being interrogated.

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15 Fatah supporters were arrested in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun, after Hamas security men broke up a bachelor's party for Fatah loyalists on Friday.

The Hamas force policing Gaza said it stopped the celebration because guests shot in the air, disturbing the peace, and confirmed four arrests. Fatah activists denied anyone had fired in the air.

The Executive Force, the Hamas militia policing Gaza, said it stopped the celebration because guests shot in the air, disturbing the peace, and confirmed four arrests. Fatah activists denied anyone had fired in the air.

The Executive Force also claimed that Fatah members had fired toward a nearby Hamas police building. "We emphasize that we didn't arrest anyone for his political affiliation," the Executive Force said in a statement. "The four were arrested for committing crimes."

Footage filmed by a cameraman from the local Ramattan news agency showed guests singing Fatah songs in praise of Abbas and his predecessor, the late Yasser Arafat. Dozens of young men were in the area.

At one point, four jeeps carrying Hamas security drove toward the stage at high speed. The Hamas gunmen jumped off and marched toward the guests, firing in the air. Some hurled chairs and others wielded clubs, as most of the guests ran away. Several minutes later, one man is seen lying on the ground, apparently unconscious, as other guests tried to carry him away.

After the incident, about 150 women and youngsters marched to the headquarters of the Hamas police in Beit Hanun. The protesters and security men yelled at each other, pushing and shoving.

Early Saturday, the cameraman who had filmed the incident was detained and released more than four hours later. His footage was broadcast on the West Bank-based Palestine TV.

In a separate incident, near the village of Abbassanin southern Gaza, 12 Fatah supporters were arrested after Friday prayers, including a member of the municipal council, Fatah activists said. Hamas had no comment on the incident.

Early Saturday, five unarmed members of Fatah's militia, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, were detained for five hours, beaten and released, Fatah officials said.
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  1.   Hamas forces arrest four Fatah members in northern Gaza Strip 00:05  |  alex 11/08/07
  2.   There they go, taking advice from Iran`s ... 00:46  |  Lynn 11/08/07
  3.   Now Abbas should arrest HAMAS members. Reciprocal approach needed 00:50  |  Vittorio 11/08/07
  4.   Nice People: Let`s give them a state so they can terrorize 00:52  |  Brad 11/08/07
  5.   peaceful Hamas 01:55  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 11/08/07
  6.   Tit for tat 02:36  |  Mark Lincoln 11/08/07
  7.   Hamas Is Now Crashing Weddings 03:22  |  Brad 11/08/07
  8.   #6 Mark Lincoln 04:08  |  Lynn 11/08/07
  9.   Palestinian democracy at its best 06:04  |  Murray of Montreal 11/08/07
  10.   Sad for the gazans, but an object lesson for everyone else 06:38  |  Voice of Reason 11/08/07
  11.   A very good example of handling Arab rioters 08:03  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/08/07
  12.   #10 - Voice of R. - I agree. But to me is more self-delusion than 08:03  |  Tess 11/08/07
  13.   #8 Lynn 08:34  |  maoriboy 11/08/07
  14.   No worry Hamas , jihadist eggplant Beilin is providing poltical 08:41  |  Joseph E . 11/08/07
  15.   Hamas Are Terrorists Plain And Simple 08:46  |  Yosemite 11/08/07
  16.   Latest news from Walla : Hamas blow up jail in Shkhem 08:52  |  Joseph E . 11/08/07
  17.   Hamas unimpeded is becoming Taliban 09:05  |  S 11/08/07
  18.   This is how they communicate, they kill. 09:23  |  Anat 11/08/07
  19.   Occupied Maoriboy 10:10  |  rich 11/08/07
  20.   Good morning Gaza 10:17  |  Charley 11/08/07
  21.   A new civil war on its way? 10:41  |  KUTW 11/08/07
  22.   Pal women and children mistreated 10:46  |  KUTW 11/08/07
  23.   The detainee was not killed! 10:57  |  gahgeer 11/08/07
  24.   Israel bridge would be battleground 11:35  |  Hannah 11/08/07
  25.   #11, where is the peace? 11:38  |  Fritz 11/08/07
  26.   ISRAELI PAYROLL 11:44  |  Indrajaya 11/08/07
  27.   Does anyone really believe 11:54  |  Yonatan 11/08/07
  28.   #19 rich in londonstan 11:57  |  maoriboy 11/08/07
  29.   Fake Hanna £ 24 11:58  |  Indrajaya 11/08/07
  30.   23gagheer,Maan Newsreports that the Hamas man was tortured & died 12:04  |  lakshmi 11/08/07
  31.   N0. 22 Have we criticised Hamas? 12:05  |  Palestinian Brit 11/08/07
  32.   Arrests 12:11  |  Anton Macker 11/08/07
  33.   indrajaya #26 12:36  |  scanadu 11/08/07
  34.   Pal Brit: look at yourselves critically 12:38  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 11/08/07
  35.   Traditio-o-o-on, tradition! And what a fine tradition it is! 12:48  |  Nik Miller 11/08/07
  36.   31Palestinian Brit,your reply to 22 who criticise Hamas for 12:49  |  lakshmi 11/08/07
  37.   The picture above says it loud and clear 12:57  |  Chick Corea 11/08/07
  38.   Palestinian Birt 13:06  |  Gil 11/08/07
  39.   #22 KUTW 13:42  |  maoriboy 11/08/07
  40.   Proposal A MILLION STATE SOLUTION 13:46  |  Gil 11/08/07
  41.   Pal Brit: look at yourselves critically 14:05  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 11/08/07
  42.   41margie in TA,beating a dead horse,see my post 36 14:29  |  lakshmi 11/08/07
  43.   Another Day Of Happiness Brought To You By Hamas 14:30  |  Shepherd 11/08/07
  44.   LAKSHMI AND HAMAS 14:44  |  Brant 11/08/07
  45.   behind fatah arrests 14:59  |  scanadu 11/08/07
  46.   Fatah and Hamas unfit to lead to liberation 15:13  |  El-Birawi 11/08/07
  47.   39 maoriboy 15:16  |  KUTW 11/08/07
  48.   Good morning Gaza, 15:24  |  Charley 11/08/07
  49.   Hamas infiltrated? 16:25  |  adelphis 11/08/07
  50.   Margie in Tel Aviv #41 - Very well put 16:56  |  Johnny 11/08/07
  51.   Abbas has abandoned hid mens in Gaza ,They`re forced to undress 17:09  |  Joseph E . 11/08/07
  52.   El-Birawi 17:12  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 11/08/07
  53.   Wedding Crashers II: the Bachelor Party 17:14  |  Richard S 11/08/07
  54.   Margie #41, let`s look at ourselves honestly 18:32  |  Esther 11/08/07
  55.   Will Hamas honour its words??? 18:46  |  Terror Watch 11/08/07
  56.   Indrayoyo 18:52  |  Infidel Too 11/08/07
  57.   46El Birawi,hope you are not listening to siren calls(52),the 19:05  |  lakshmi 11/08/07
  58.   Joseph E - What Plan? 19:30  |  Mark of Lewiston 11/08/07
  59.   Look into the eyes... 19:54  |  justice 11/08/07
  60.   #47 KUTW 20:34  |  maoriboy 11/08/07
  61.   59Justice,if it is a look of hatred it is directed most likely 20:52  |  lakshmi 11/08/07
  62.   #57 You mean the Spaniards bombed into submission in Madrid? 22:47  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/08/07
  63.   Hah hah hah,earthquake from Allah in Jakarta, INDRARATAYA & rats 22:50  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/08/07
  64.   to lakshmi 00:17  |  justice 12/08/07
  65.   # 58 Mark of Lewiston @ Lewiston /USA 01:11  |  Joseph E . 12/08/07
  66.   64Justice,since you take the OT so literally,the Christian zionis 01:16  |  lakshmi 12/08/07
  67.   Several observations 02:01  |  Mark Lincoln 12/08/07
  68.   The bottom line is interesting 02:06  |  Mark Lincoln 12/08/07
  69.   To # 39 19:08  |  Watcher 12/08/07
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