- Title: VARIOUS: Palestinian gunmen storm offices in West Bank and Gaza
- Date: 20th December 2005
- Summary: WIDE OF FATAH MASKED HOLDING MACHINE GUNS AND SHOULDER FIRED ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE
- Embargoed: 4th January 2006 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: War / Fighting
- Reuters ID: LVAD666ODG0JI0YM2LYMZPGUBF3I
- Story Text: Palestinian gunmen stormed offices in Khan Younis
and in the West Bank on Tuesday (December 20) demanding the
Palestinian Authority pay their salaries.
In Khan Younis, at least 100 masked gunmen stormed the
Fatah headquarters, holding up their rifles they took over
the rooftop.
"We are giving you 24 hours. After that we will
firstly: The fatah party will be on a high state of alert.
Secondly: No foreigner will be allowed to enter (Gaza)
regardless of their work and that is within 24 hours of
stating this. Thirdly: We will work towards boycotting the
elections, municipal, legislative and factional if the
fighters don't get our rights. Forthly: We will leave the
Fatah party if we don't get our rights and those who have
done us wrong will know who they are doing wrong to," said
the masked gunman in Khan Younis.
The gunmen, members of an armed group in President
Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades,
demanded jobs and recruitment in Palestinian Authority
security services.
In Bethlehem, gunmen stormed the city hall overlooking
the Church of the Nativity on Tuesday and forced workers
out, witnesses said.
The 20 militants from al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades swept
into the building on Manger Square, interrupting
preparations for the Christmas season. Witnesses said they
were demanding that the Palestinian Authority pay their
salaries.
The militants came to an agreement with the governor of
Bethlehem, Salah Attamari, to end their seige of the
government building located near the Nativity Church which
is decorated and awaiting Christams celebrations.
"The sons of Fatah had a few requests, to deliver their
message in this way which is not appropriate especially
with Christmas at our doorstep and the new Year," Salah
Attamari told reporters.
Fatah militant fighters have struggled to find their
role, Abbas had promised to ecorporate them into security
bodies and to pay their salaries.
Tensions within Fatah party are at an all time high
with legislative elections around the corner Fatah seems to
be loosing ground and as a result empowering their militant
opponent in the upcoming elections Hamas. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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