GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Palestinian gunmen opened fire at Hamas officials early Thursday in separate attacks, marring efforts to shore up a truce that brought relative quiet to Gaza after days of deadly factional violence. However, the three-day old cease-fire appeared to hold in the face of the shootings. ‘Cept for da usual threats and sporadic gunfire…weez been keepin’ a lid on things.
In Gaza, unknown gunmen opened fire early Thursday at Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum as he drove with three bodyguards in his white sedan toward an impromptu checkpoint near Gaza City, Hamas said. There were no casualties. A Hamas announcement blamed "coup-seekers," meaning militants from the rival Fatah party. "This is a violation of the (truce) agreement," Barhoum said. He reported the incident to Egyptian mediators and the gunmen removed their checkpoint, he said.
HeyÂ…dats not fair! Weez been tryin to get our hands on more ammo and dey keeps shootinÂ’. AbuÂ…quickÂ…get the Egyptians on da blower.
Later Thursday, gunmen in a car shot at Islam Shahwan, a spokesman for a Hamas militia, Shahwan said, blaming the shooting on Fatah-affiliated security officers. One Hamas member was wounded, he said. Other sporadic shooting attacks were reported Thursday, including one that wounded a Hamas militant.
SayÂ…Mahmood is dis what dey mean by relative quiet? I dunno HamidÂ…da kin folk of ShahwanÂ’s muscle been purdy quiet.
The incidents didn't unravel the cease-fire, declared early Tuesday by leaders of Fatah and Hamas. The truce is meant to bring an end to internal fighting that has left more than 60 Palestinians dead since early December, though it did not resolve the underlying animosity between the groups. On Wednesday, armed militias returned to their bases and police took their places, though some streets were still off limits to civilians.
Keep yer powder dry boysÂ…we best lay lowÂ…dem coppers been givinÂ’ us da stinky eye.
Many thought both Fatah and Hamas were harmed by the fighting. "Blood had to be shed for one to be on top," said Khaled Zeidan, a 40-year old engineer, who lives in an area hard hit by fighting, "but they are both losing." Both sides said that all the fighters kidnapped during the clashes had been freed. Previous truce deals between Hamas and Fatah militants in Gaza have quickly collapsed into new waves of fighting. Hamas-Fatah coalition talks have broken down and appear unlikely to resume soon, though both Saudi Arabia and Egypt have offered to mediate.