GAZA: Hamas and Fatah security officials reach deal to end Gaza violence

Record ID: 376669

  • Title: GAZA: Hamas and Fatah security officials reach deal to end Gaza violence
  • Date: 15th May 2007
  • Summary: PALESTINIAN CABINET SPOKESMAN GHAZI HAMAD STEPPING OUTSIDE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN CABINET SPOKESMAN GHAZI HAMAD SAYING: "I can confirm that through the meetings today between the prime minister and the leaders of Hamas and Fatah we have an agreement. We have confirmed that this agreement should be implemented this night, first of all that the president he gave
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAF2RCUS034VJUDZK2I0AWUL2TV
  • Story Text: Hamas and Fatah security officials agree to renew a pledge to combat Gaza violence.
    Palestinian factions renewed on Monday (May 14) a pledge to work to keep gunmen off Gaza streets, following the resignation of the interior minister and the biggest surge in factional fighting in months.
    The agreement was reached after Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh met Hamas and Fatah security officials in his Gaza office.
    Two Palestinian militants and two civilians were killed in the territory in clashes between Hamas and Fatah gunmen on Monday. Nine people have been shot dead since a new round of violence erupted on Friday, which revived fears of civil war.
    Palestinian Interior Minister Hani al-Qawasmi, who was to have overseen security services, had resigned over frustration by competition from powerful Fatah rivals for control of the armed contingents, officials said.
    Haniyeh, a Hamas leader, has since taken over Qawasmi's duties.
    Officials said following the talks that leaders from both sides agreed all gunmen aside from the Palestinian police would be removed from Gaza streets.
    "I can confirm that through the meetings today between the prime minister and the leaders of Hamas and Fatah we have an agreement. We have confirmed that this agreement should be implemented this night, first of all that the president he gave orders to all security forces to withdraw from the streets and I think also Hamas and Fatah, both of them gave orders to their elements in the street to withdraw and to stop all military conflict and military clashes in the streets," Palestinian cabinet spokesman Ghazi Hamad said.
    Violence has often marred past agreements aimed at ending lawlessness.
    Past police deployments have not fully secured the territory, which has sunk further into poverty and political disarray since Israel withdrew troops and settlers in 2005.
    Qawasmi's resignation had cast new doubt on whether power-sharing between Islamist Hamas and secular Fatah could continue. Filling the interior ministry post had been one of the main obstacles to forming the unity government.
    Earlier, sources in President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah said tensions stoked by the renewed violence with Hamas, after a new ceasefire was announced late on Sunday, could lead to the collapse of a saudi-brokered unity government within days.
    Both sides had planned to pull gunmen off the streets a day before Palestinians mark the "Naqba", or what they describe as the tragedy that befell them when Israel was created in 1948.
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