Hamas detains dozens of Fatah supporters in sweep of Gaza Strip - Haaretz

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Sun., August 12, 2007 Av 28, 5767

Israel Time: 02:14 (EST+7)

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Hamas detains dozens of Fatah supporters in sweep of Gaza Strip

By The Associated Press, Reuters

Hamas militiamen detained 32 Fatah supporters across Gaza, half of them after breaking up a bachelor party and beating guests with clubs and chairs, Fatah officials and witnesses said yesterday.

It was in one of Hamas' largest sweeps since it took over the territory by force in June. Since then, Hamas has promised amnesty to Fatah loyalists, and it was not immediately clear whether the arrests late Friday and early yesterday signaled the start a crackdown on Fatah or were isolated incidents.

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In the northern town of Beit Hanun, 15 Fatah supporters were arrested, Fatah said, after Hamas security men broke up a bachelor party for a Fatah loyalist.

The Executive Force, the Hamas militia policing Gaza, said it stopped the celebration because guests shot into the air, disturbing the peace. Fatah activists denied that anyone had fired into the air.

Beit Hanun residents said Hamas forces later shot into the air to disperse relatives of the detainees, mainly women, who protested against the arrests near an Executive Force post.

More than 20 people were injured in the fighting, including one who suffered a gunshot wound, witnesses said.

A Fatah source said Hamas forces also detained at least 15 supporters of the group in Khan Yunis in south Gaza. There was no immediate Hamas comment on those arrests.

Fatah and Hamas spokesmen said at least four senior Fatah members were taken into custody in Beit Hanun.

"Four Fatah leaders were arrested not because of who they are, but for violating public security," said Saber Khalifa, a spokesman for Hamas' Executive Force, without elaborating.

He added the men were being interrogated.

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

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

Early yesterday 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.

Separately, the Hamas' Executive Force policing Gaza yesterday announced the formation of its new coast guard unit - the Marine Police.

Saber Khalifa, the Executive Force spokesman, said the new body will consist of 150 members and soon begin its operations off the coast of the Gaza Strip.

He said the new force's main functions will include preventing the smuggling of drugs into Gaza, protecting Gaza's fishermen and maintaining security for Gaza residents on the beach.

The unit is the latest in a series of steps taken by Hamas to establish its authority and restore law and order in Gaza.

Hamas has already introduced a new traffic police unit and will soon open a new internal security agency, Hamas officials said.

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