MIDDLE EAST: At least 11 Palestinians are killed in Gaza factional violence despite Palestinian leaders for calm

Record ID: 375229

  • Title: MIDDLE EAST: At least 11 Palestinians are killed in Gaza factional violence despite Palestinian leaders for calm
  • Date: 16th May 2007
  • Summary: (W3) GAZA CITY, GAZA (MAY 15, 2007) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL MAN SHOUTING AS HE IS ESCORTED TOWARDS HOSPITAL
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2007 13:00
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  • Reuters ID: LVA9LXECFM0HY45HNE82FDMQKVW9
  • Story Text: At least 11 Palestinians are killed in Gaza factional violence despite calls by Palestinian government and factional leaders for calm.
    At least 11 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday (May 15) -- eight in one incident -- in the deadliest fighting between Hamas and Fatah since the rivals formed a unity government to end bloodshed threatening to spill into civil war.
    The sound of automatic weapons fire echoed through Gaza City streets throughout much of the morning. Most civilians took cover inside their houses.
    Eight members of Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah-affiliated Presidential Guard were killed on the Gaza side of the Karni Crossing with Israel. Fatah officials blamed Hamas militants for the attack.
    Tanks, armoured bulldozers, and other vehicles took up positions on the Israeli side of the crossing.
    In Gaza City, bodies were stacked in a hospital morgue.
    Factional leaders blamed their rivals for the bloodshed.
    Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha told Reuters: "The party responsible for what happened is the presidential guard that fired at a group of Qassam brigades who were protecting the border from expected Israeli attacks on Gaza. We were surprised when we got fired upon heavily by that force which sadly works with American weapons and is supported by American forces."
    Fatah spokesman Maher Maqtad said Hamas was not able to control its militant elements.
    "The attack started in the Saftawi area again, the fourth brigade was attacked at the Karni crossing with heavy weapons, RPGs and was shelled with mortars. We went back again and complained to Hamas and they said they are facing problems and complications in persuading their brothers to follow the agreement reached last night with the prime minster," he told Reuters.
    Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, held an emergency meeting with factional leaders. No Fatah leaders were present.
    Khaled Al-Batsh, a leader of the Islamic Jihad militant group, said after the meeting: "Our Palestinian issue is in danger because the clashes should not give us enough effort and enough force to resist the occupation. We are under occupation and we need some unity to stop the violation, the Israeli violation."
    For many Palestinians, the violence was particularly disturbing on Naqba Day, an annual day of reflection on what Palestinians describe as the tragedy that befell them when Israel became a state in 1948.
    Away from the gunfights in Gaza, Palestinians in the West Bank held demonstrations to mark Naqba Day.
    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a videotaped statement calling for international support in ending the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, and dealing with internal fighting.
    Speaking about the international community Abbas said: "They should play their part as an even-handed party in the struggle, should deal with and respect the platform of the national unity government in order to end the unjust siege on our people. This is so we can deal with all the issues of new government, starting with an end to lawlessness and internal chaos through the respect and implementation of rule of law, as we implement the security plan."
    Islamist Hamas and secular Fatah formed a unity government in March in a Saudi-brokered deal that left the crucial issue of control over security forces unresolved and armed groups fighting turf wars that have become even more deadly.
    In a challenge to Hamas, a 450-strong contingent of Fatah fighters that had been receiving advanced training in Egypt, entered Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Israeli approval, Western sources said.
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