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Hamas calls Gaza to arms
 The Palestinian government has urged security forces to fight Israeli troops in Gaza after the most violent day since Israel withdrew from the territory last year. Saeed Seyam, the interior minister, declared a state of emergency on Thursday, according to a spokesman after fighting killed 17 Palestinians and one Israeli soldier.Khalid Abu Hilal, a Hamas minister, told a news conference: "Because of the continuation of bloodshed and Israel's crimes, the minister of interior a few hours ago declared a full state of emergency in the homeland. He (Seyam) called on all Palestinian security and military services to participate in the moral, national and religious duty to defend our people ... and to confront this incursion and cowardly Zionist aggression." However, although some security forces are controlled by Hamas, most are loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and his Fatah movement. And Abbas is the only person who can authorise a state of emergency. Posted by: Fred 2006-07-07 |
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