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One killed, 12 injured in Hamas-Fatah festivities in Gaza
 Rival Hamas and Fatah forces clashed in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least one person and injuring 12 others. The fighting spread across the southern Gaza town of Rafah as Hamas and Fatah gunmen set up checkpoints and took up positions on rooftops, two days after President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah said Palestinians were standing on the brink of civil war. Israel is considering a new request from Fatah to allow shipments of arms and ammunition into Gaza from Egypt and other Arab states, Israeli and Western security sources said. Palestinian officials had no immediate comment. Fatah said Thursdays clash in Rafah erupted when gunmen from the Islamist Hamas group confronted one of its local leaders at his home. The mans brother was killed. At least 12 other Palestinians were wounded, including at least six from Fatah, four from Hamas and two bystanders, as the fighting spread, Palestinian hospital officials said. Thursdays death was the first since an Egyptian-brokered truce took hold in mid-May after the latest wave of factional fighting killed some 50 Palestinians. Israel has allowed Abbass forces to bring in arms, ammunition and reinforcements from Egypt and other Arab states over the last year. The Bush administration has asked Israel to permit transfers to bolster Abbass forces as a counterweight to Hamass dominance in the Gaza Strip. Some Israeli officials say they fear the weapons will end up in the hands of Hamas and Fatah militants behind attacks on Israel. But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has generally been supportive of the U.S.-coordinated effort. This is between the Israelis and the Palestinians, a senior Western security official said. US and Israeli security officials say Hamass Executive Force and armed wing receive money, weapons and training from Iran and other Islamist allies. Washington has backed Abbass elite Presidential Guard, which was expected on Thursday to graduate another 500 recruits. Israels Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the latest Fatah request for arms. Abbas and Olmert had been scheduled to meet on Thursday in the West Bank city of Jericho, but the summit was called off by the Palestinians. Palestinian officials said Abbas was seeking firm commitments from Israel that it will release frozen Palestinian funds and take other steps. Olmert had also signalled he would not accept Abbass call for a truce with militants in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Posted by: Fred 2007-06-08 |
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