Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades members say they want jobs (Archive photo)
Photo: AP
Fatah gunmen storm PA offices
Dozens of armed al-Aqsa Brigades Martyrs members say they want Palestinian government to deliver on pledge to recruit them into security forces
Dozens of gunmen linked to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah group raided a government building in Gaza on Saturday, demanding he make good
The Palestinian Interior Ministry said it was checking the circumstances of the incident but declined immediate comment on the latest unrest in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that has seen months of growing lawlessness.
on a deal to recruit them into his security forces.
Anarchy
By Ali Waked
In surprising admission, Palestinian National Security Advisor Jibril Rajoub says ineffective PA security forces responsible for growing anarchy
Abbas' government agreed last month to give hundreds of gunmen from al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades jobs in its security forces in a bid to keep them off the streets, officials said at the time, but gave no timetable for removing their personal weapons.
‘Legitimate demand’
About 40 armed members of the group, some masked, stormed the Legislative Council building in the town of Rafah to protest the delay in the move and occupied it for four hours.
They said they had not used violence or held anyone hostage.
Group spokesman Abu Wael said all the gunmen left the offices and would wait for a response from the Palestinian Authority elsewhere. Al-Aqsa is linked to Fatah, the main Palestinian group.
The al-Aqsa gunmen relayed their message to the Palestinian Authority through a local lawmaker, Abed-Rabbo Abu Awn, who said they "have raised a legitimate demand…they seek jobs in order to be able to support their families.”
