Fighting resumes (Archive photo)
Photo: Reuters
10 hurt in Gaza clashes
Hamas-Fatah clashes resume; leaflet announces establishment of al-Qaeda branch in Gaza
Gaza violence continues: At least 10 Palestinians were hurt Tuesday morning in exchanges of fire between Hamas and Fatah members in the Gaza Strip.
Most of those hurt were school children on their way to class, but Hamas' Izz-al-Din-al-Qassam Brigades members were also among those wounded.
On Monday, two Fatah members and one Hamas member died in the fighting.
Palestinian sources reported that armed Fatah men securing the home of a leading figure in the movement spotted a vehicle carrying three Hamas members. The Fatah gunmen opened fire at the Hamas vehicle and wounded the group members before detaining them. A short while later the detainees were freed.
However, reinforcements from both sides arrived at the area soon after and exchanges of fire ensued. At one point, Fatah members were able to arrest three Hamas men.
The renewed violence follows an emergency meeting by the supreme committee of Palestinian organizations that called on both sides to hold their fire, maintain restraint, and avoid infighting.
Al-Qaeda branch opens in Strip
Aside from dealing with the ongoing violence in Gaza, the Hamas government will have to address another problem – the boosting of al-Qaeda in the Strip.
A leaflet published overnight on behalf of the Islamic "al-Quds" army said the organization has been set up following calls by "Mujahideen leaders" Osama Bin Laden, Aiman al-Zawahiri, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Qaeda's leader in Iran. The leaflet said the new group will "start operating in Palestine."
The group said its cells belong to al-Qaeda and have been formed with the "assistance of Allah" in order to fight the occupation and the Crusaders.
"We'll hit with an iron hand all those who take part in the American Crusader and Zionist campaign against Islam," the group said and threatened to resort to suicide attacks again "Zionist and Crusader targets."
The group also pledged to display photos of its members and footage of its actions on television "so that the world understands our intentions are serious."
