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Hamas member killed in firefight with Palestinian police
A member of Hamas was killed early Thursday in a shootout with Palestinian security forces trying to break up an outdoor Hamas training session on how to fire homemade rockets at Israel.Beginning of the Paleo civil war? Or just intervention by those who understand cause/effect? The firefight came hours after Mahmoud Abbas accepted the newly created post of prime minister. Nice setback for Yasser - even the Paleo parliament is marginalizing him One of his challenges will be to stop the firing of short-range Kassam rockets from northern Gaza at Israeli border towns. Israel has responded harshly to such attacks, raiding Palestinian towns and threatening to reoccupy parts of Gaza if the firing persists. No Israeli has been killed or seriously hurt by Kassam rockets. Just due to luck and poor skill on the Paleo part, not for lack of trying In recent months, Palestinian security forces have sporadically patrolled the areas from which Kassam rockets are launched, but have largely been unable to prevent the rocket fire. right, if you only patrol during daylight hours or with your blinders on, you'll see nothing.... right Schultz? At about 11 p.m. Wednesday, officers from the Palestinian intelligence service spotted several Hamas members in a field near the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. The Hamas activists, who were training how to fire Kassam rockets, were arrested. Trying to earn their merit badges in rocketry, that's all Hamas reinforcements arrived and a gun battle erupted. At one point, Hamas members held an intelligence colonel as a bargaining chip for the release of the detainees, but then agreed to free the officer without conditions, the group said. Despite attempts at mediation, a Hamas member was killed and two were wounded in the standoff which ended at about 2 a.m. Thursday, Hamas said. There was no immediate comment from the security forces. The intelligence colonel should be cleaning latrines this week Hamas has clashed repeatedly with Palestinian security forces, but has stopped short of an all-out confrontation. The group reiterated Thursday that it opposes civil war and "forbids the shedding of Palestinian blood." Cause they actually aren't very well-armed or have enough members to win that civil war... if Abbas wants to get control though, these guys have gotta be put down, good luck pal Several hours after the incident, a Kassam rocket was fired toward a Jewish settlement in Gaza, causing no injuries or damage, the military said. And there'll be total surprise when the IDF rolls again... cause/effect... jeez what a bunch of idiots. Posted by: Frank G 2003-03-20 |
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