Hamas-Fatah fighting peaks in Gaza
Published: June 12, 2007 at 3:29 PM E-mail Story | Print Preview | License
JERUSALEM, June 12 (UPI) -- The Palestinian power struggle in the Gaza Strip is intensifying as Islamic Hamas occupies a Fatah stronghold in the Jabaliya refugee camp.
Rival groups, the Islamic Hamas and the nationalist Fatah have been fighting ever since Hamas won last year's elections to the Legislative Council but the presidency remained in Fatah's hands.
Gaza has been going through waves of violence, and this week, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, the violence engulfed most of the strip as militants deployed in streets, entrances to towns, near governmental headquarters and security compounds.
"Militants have been more violent than ever before as they have stormed hospitals and forced medical crews out," the PCHR reported.
An accurate picture was difficult to come by as the strip became too dangerous to traverse and the rival sides issued conflicting reports. The Ma'an news agency noted that Palestinian media were taking sides and issuing unreliable reports.
PCHR said that since Sunday, 21 Palestinians have been killed and at least 150 were wounded. A Ma'an report said 11 were Hamas members and 10 national security men. The national security forces are associated with Fatah.
Hamas seems well organized and strong in Gaza, but Fatah is believed to have the upper hand in the West Bank.
Hence Fatah warned that if Hamas continues to kill Fatah activists in the Gaza Strip, "We will target all Hamas leaders and activists in the West Bank without exception."
A Hamas deputy minister was kidnapped in the West Bank. |
