The head of a Fatah-aligned clan who fled the Gaza Strip into Israel four months ago following a bloody gunbattle with Hamas has returned home. Ahmad Hilles was greeted by family Tuesday and taken away in a small sedan. Hilles fled Gaza in early August after his clan was routed by Hamas security forces. He escaped into Israel along with 180 others, mostly members of his heavily armed extended family. The clash left 11 dead and marked the end of one of the last pockets of potential opposition to Hamas rule in the territory. Most of the others have already returned to Gaza with Hamas' permission.
Hamas Interior Ministry spokesman Ihab Ghussen said the group welcomes Hilles' return and hopes he will help bring about reconciliation.