To: Ichy Smith who wrote (3604 ) 12/13/2006 6:55:21 PM From: Proud_Infidel Respond to of 20106 Palestinian Gunmen Kill Hamas Judge in Gaza ... (Forced to his knees, Shot) Fox News ^ | Wednesday, December 13, 2006foxnews.com KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Palestinian gunmen fatally ambushed a Hamas-linked Islamic judge and militant commander outside of a courthouse early Wednesday, escalating factional tensions in the Gaza Strip. The drive-by shooting came two days after the killing of the three young children of a Fatah-allied Palestinian intelligence officer, which sparked fresh conflict between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions. The violence has reduced chances for a unity government and pushed the two sides closer to civil war. Palestinian security officials said the slain man was Bassam al-Fara, 30, a jurist at the Islamic court and a Hamas commander who belongs to the largest clan in the southern town of Khan Younis. In a statement faxed to reporters, Hamas openly accused what it called a Fatah "death squad" in al-Fara's killing. Fauzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, gave no further details about al-Fara's militant activities but pledged to hunt down the killers. "This is an ugly crime committed against one of the field commanders of Hamas' military wing and one of the prominent figures in Hamas," Barhoum said. "The fingers that shot him are the same fingers that were involved in the killing of previous Hamas leaders. "Hamas is not going to forget the blood of its members. It is going to pursue and bring those who were involved in today's crime to justice." Fatah spokesman Tawfik Abu Khoussa rejected the accusations. "We condemn all acts of anarchy, whatever may be behind them. We call on the brothers in Hamas to stop firing accusations before the investigation," he said. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said from Sudan that he would cut short a foreign trip and return to Gaza. (Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ....