Six hurt as Hamas, Fatah clash in heaviest Gaza fighting in weeks
Clashes erupted less than 48 hours after new security plan launched, sparked by arrest of Hamas militant.
By ReutersRival Palestinian factions clashed in the Gaza Strip on Friday, causing at least six injuries, in some of the heaviest fighting in weeks, security officials and witnesses said.
The clashes erupted less than 48 hours after Palestinian security forces began deploying in Gaza under a new security plan.
Palestinians had hoped the deployment would help curb growing lawlessness and ease tensions between ruling Hamas Islamists and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction.
Hamas said the fighting began before dawn when members of Abbas' national security forces detained a member of Hamas' military wing.
The man was detained because he was suspected of being involved in firing on security forces overnight, according to a source with the national security forces.
Hamas militants responded by storming the facility where the man was being held and freeing him. At least two members of the national security forces were wounded, one seriously, in the gun fight.
In other clashes early Friday, at least one Hamas member was wounded, along with three others.
Internal fighting decreased after Hamas and Fatah formed a unity government two months ago, but tensions have remained high and a Western aid embargo on the Palestinian Authority remains in place.
Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas had ordered the deployment of the police this week as part of the security plan.
But casting doubt over the effort, Palestinian Interior Minister Hani al-Qawasmi, an independent with no security background, said he did not order the move and renewed his threat to resign.
Militant groups, including Hamas's armed wing, urged the security forces not to take any actions against them.
Previous police deployments in Gaza have not fully secured the territory, which has sunk further into poverty and political disarray since Israel withdrew in 2005.
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RE: "Most of Hamas & Fatah belong to the cult (it is not a religion) of Islam, so what is their problem?? The answer - Islam is a cult....." I want to apologize for my outburst after reading about the actions of militant PALs, especially against Israel and other non-Muslims. I am not by nature a harsh-speaking person, but for some reason I did post some nasty words against Muslims and their beliefs. I hope post #16 does not constitute some form of racial hatred and cause trouble for people, and I hereby request that you delete the post from this forum and from your database. I appreciate your newspaper providing this service to the public to let the average person sound off about the topics you present online. However, I do not usually reply or comment online about much of the news topics I read here, so it is with regret that I did post these comments. Therefore, can you please honor my request to delete post #16. You can reply to this page so I can read your response.
Number 16 might well be right -- certainly the members of these organizations afford her much evidence. If indeed they are cults, let us perhaps provide a large vat of koolaid from which they might drink to the moon to whom they seem always to be howling like jackals.
Hamas and Fatah fit all the classical characteristics of criminal gangs. And, just like the gangs, they now fight for street control. We've seen it here in NY, and it was ended by the iron-fist policy of NYPD. Hamastan, though, has no police department, as it is a gang land, ruled by gangsters and thugs. "Resistance", my foot! A pure and simple gang warfare and fighting over the turf. One little difference: these particular gangs are fully sponsored by the dhimmi dummies in the EU and partially by the American tax dollars.
this week abbas says he depoloyed 3,000 security personal in gaza. are you telling me not one of them came across these group of terrorists branishing machine guns in public and wearing masks?? i thought show guns in public was supposed to be a no no under abbas' rule. i guess that rule doesnt apply to his own parties terrorists. so much for any control in gaza by either hamas or fatah. hamas has 'security' personal in gaza why arent they goign after these fatah guys with guns? i know its a was of time and its time to get rid of olmert and makes these PALS see what law and order means. bombs away.
Well said. If this is a war, (and it certailnly looks like it from this side of the atlantic) please can we once and for all end this by going on the offensive and doing what needs to be done. Lets make sure that our enemy understands what the alternative to statehood can be.
IDF - You see those fighters congregrating together. Bomb them. You have not done it once over many years. Overcome your fear of defeating the enemy. You need to kill enemy troops in a war if you want to win.
THEY ARE ISRAELI ACTIVISTS AND ARE AS BAD AS THE PALESTINIAN FREEDOM .MOVEMENT. THE ISRAELI SOLDIERS HAVE A JOB TO DO, BUT IT IS THEY WHO CHOOSE TO FIGHT THE SOLDIERS. I WOULD LOCK THEM UP.
Most of Hamas & Fatah belong to the cult (it is not a religion) of Islam, so what is their problem?? The answer - Islam is a cult. It`s the religion of hatred and evil and bloodshed. It`s the cult of the devil. What a peaceful world it could be without Islam. Just look at the map. Just look at the numerous places where blood is being shed in the name of Allah. It`s a cult. Not a religion. How many people blame the problems of the world on the Jews and Israel, when most of the real culprits since the 7th century have been Muslims spreading their wonderful faith. They even kill others of the other sects of their cult (& possibly members within their own sects) in the name of Allah and Islam. And yet there was a cartoon on the Hamas supported televison network of a Mickey Mouse-like character calling for not only the destruction of Isreal, but also for Islam to lead the world!! God helps us if we all have to bow down and pray to their moon-God, Allah!!
Reuters had a photo of a wounded Arab being carried by others and there were at least three videographers with very professional looking equipment present yet no videos appear - at least on major network US news - of these gun battles. Who are the journalists and where does their filming go? Is the PA / Hamas still confiscating 'embarrassing' footage?
I take it you are an authority on Judaism and Israel. I was at the Western Wall this past fall and had rocks thrown at me from the lovely peaceful Muslims worshipping at their peaceful mosque built atop the ruins of a church that was built atop the Second Temple. Do not preach to me about who advocates violence.
Many people would suggest that apart from traditional Hamas rhetoric, they have been coopted into the Zionist agenda of "rest and relaxation" for the State of Israel. The Hamas rhetoric is full of bluster and issues about "calm" and "mutual ceasefire," but some would say that they are fully integrated into the Zionist PA enforcer agenda, even without intending to do so. They have been on a "ceasefire" for over TWO YEARS! Why are Zionists so worried?!
But hang on, if Fatah and Hamas are both our enemies, and they are each other's enemies, and we are their enemies then doesn't that make us all each others' friends? Ah, the heart warming reality of the Middle East, really we are all bosom buddies just by dint of the fact that everyone is trying to kill everyone else! It's a funny old world! :)
When will you begin to live and think like human beings?
Ahmed, you are wrong ! Jews couldn't teach their children to use violence against the Gestapo. If you would have gone to school & listened, you'd know that the children were separated from their parents,loaded onto trains & sent directly to extarmination camps. Furthermore, I don't understand who you compare to the Gestapo, Hamas or Fatah ? I'm impressed by your concern for Israeli Jewish citizens
our enemies, enemie are our friends! HOORAH ENEMIES!! GET EM BOYS !
They taught their kids to use violence against the Gestapo. And speaking of violence..we saw yesterday on TV how Isreli soldiers treat their own fellow Israeli Jewish citizens....
Only the leftists are constantly surprised that the Palestinians are at each others throats. In their version of reality, this just isn't suppose to happen. The rest of us aren't surprised by it at all.
Israeli culture is also a culture of violence. In Israel, it violence is sanctified. It is called the "purity of arms."
Whoopeeee ! Cheer cheer !
... I'll take your advice. Thx mate !
Palestinian society and culture is formed very early in the lives of Palestinian children, who are taught that, violence and hatred leads them to what they want and to great rewards. Is it really, then, a big surprise when these children grow up and use what they learned about hatred and violence, on their own Palestinian neighbors?