MIDEAST: Violence continues in Gaza even as Palestinian factions vow to renew ceasefire agreement

Record ID: 375363

  • Title: MIDEAST: Violence continues in Gaza even as Palestinian factions vow to renew ceasefire agreement
  • Date: 3rd February 2007
  • Summary: (W3) GAZA CITY, GAZA (FEBRUARY 2, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING FROM ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY BUILDING AUDIO OF GUNFIRE MILITANTS ON TOP OF AL-AZHAR UNIVERSITY BUILDING AUDIO: GUNFIRE
  • Embargoed: 18th February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVADQJYCT2YVOZZJCEADNVYGXQZB
  • Story Text: Fighting between Palestinian rival factions escalated across Gaza on Friday (February 2), killing at least 15 Palestinians in fierce fighting between rival Hamas and Fatah factions in the Gaza Strip, increasing the death toll to 21 for the last 24 hours.
    Fatah gunmen set ablaze the Islamic University, a key symbol of Hamas' strength in the Gaza Strip. Explosions and fires later broke out at the nearby campus of al-Quds University, a Fatah bastion. Hamas denied any involvement. Heavy smoke from fires at the Islamic and al-Quds universities blanketed parts of Gaza City.
    Hamas said its fighters took control of several compounds and buildings used by security forces loyal to Fatah. Hamas said it seized arms from some of these compounds.
    Eight fighters loyal to Abbas, three Hamas gunmen, a woman and two children were killed on Friday in a second day of fierce clashes in the Gaza Strip that shattered a three-day-old ceasefire between Fatah and the ruling Islamist movement.
    After talks with Egyptian mediators, Hamas and Fatah leaders promised to revive their ceasefire deal. Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas both called for calm.
    "The leaders of both factions have agreed for a ceasefire, the steps that need to be put in position are being discussed now, and hopefully we have another meeting so we can actually and really have a true implementation of the ceasefire on the ground," Nizar Rayan, Hamas spokesperson told reporters.
    "We are making every possible effort so we can return to calm one more time. This is in short what we can talk about after this meeting," Abdel Hakeem Awad, Fatah spokesperson told reporters outside the Egyptian representation office.
    "And I urge and call upon all factions and groups in Gaza to stop these acts that hurt the interest of the Palestinian People. I call upon everyone regardless of their affiliation to stop this bloodshed of the Palestinian people," Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said during a meeting with the world Bank representative.
    At the urging of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, Abbas of Fatah and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal agreed to hold talks in the holy Muslim city of Mecca, most likely on Tuesday (February 6), a senior Palestinian diplomat said.
    Abbas and Meshaal failed to settle their differences over a unity government in a meeting last month in Damascus.
    Jamal al-Shobaki, Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, told Reuters that Abbas and Meshaal had agreed to discuss forming a national unity government that can end the siege.
    The United States has convened a meeting of the Quartet of Middle East mediators in Washington on Friday, seeking to bolster support from the European Union, Russia and the United Nations for its embargo of the Hamas-led government and its attempt to revive stalled peace talks through Abbas, a moderate.
    The United States has pledged 86 million U.S. dollars to strengthen Abbas' security forces. Hamas accuses Fatah of spearheading a U.S.-backed coup against its government.
    Hamas defeated the once-dominant Fatah in elections a year ago. Since taking over the government in March, Hamas has struggled to govern under the weight of U.S.-backed sanctions imposed over its refusal to recognise Israel and accept existing interim peace deals with the Jewish state.
    A fragile truce between the rival factions broke down on Thursday after Hamas gunmen ambushed what the Islamist group said was a convoy carrying military equipment to Abbas' presidential guard in Gaza.
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