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Fatah accuses Hamas of using its men as 'human shields'
The Fatah movement on Thursday accused Hamas of using seized Fatah operatives as "human shields" in the face of Israeli attacks in Gaza. Three civilians said to be among Palestinians killed in IDF strikes in Gaza after terror groups fired a long-range rocket towards Ashkelon. Army accuses militants of intentionally basing themselves in civilian areas This after a Fatah operative being held in a Hamas structure was killed in an IDF strike. The operative was arrested on Wednesday after returning to the Strip from Egypt through the Rafah border crossing. At the center of the current turmoil between factions is Abdullah Kishta, a 27-year-old Fatah operative, which Fatah claims was wanted by both the IDF and Hamas. Kishta fled Gaza after Hamas' takeover in June of last year, and took advantage of the return of some 2,000 Palestinian pilgrims to the Strip by hiding amongst them and infiltrating from Egypt. However, Hamas men who had anticipated infiltration attempts by wanted Fatah men located Kishta in the crowd and arrested him upon his entry to the Strip. Kishta was arrested along with about seven additional Fatah operatives, who were scattered amongst various Hamas facilities throughout the Strip. He himself was transferred into custody in Hamas' outpost in Tel Sultan, and killed in an IDF attack in the area. Eyewitnesses reported that Kishta's body was transferred to a hospital with his hands and legs still bound, a remnant of the 'treatment' he received prior to his death at the Hamas facilities. The Fatah movement was quick to accuse Hamas of using imprisoned Fatah operatives as "human shields" against Israeli strikes. Fatah spokesman Fahmi Zarir even claimed that Hamas had evacuated the outposts and left behind Fatah operatives, who fell victim to Israel's attacks. "This phenomenon is a continuation of the ugly and immoral policies employed by Hamas against Fatah men. Hamas gangs evacuated the Rafah outpost, but left there the Fatah prisoners who were forced to deal with the Israeli air force strikes, which resulted in the wounding of 18 of them," claimed Zarir. He added that "this is terrorism and ugly racism by Hamas, which is emulating the Israeli style of action. Whether it be abductions or the destruction of homes and the use of detainees as human shields, and the humiliation, as is what happens with Fatah men." Stories like this give me warm glow. Posted by: phil_b 2008-01-03 |
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