Mahmoud al-Zahar
Photo: AP
Attack on home of Palestinian foreign minister
Gunmen open fire at home of Mahmoud al-Zahar, senior Hamas leader. No injuries reported. Assessment: Attack perpetrated by Dharmesh family whose two sons were killed last week. Fear of renewed bloodshed
After a few hours of calm in Gaza, the quiet was disturbed as armed gunmen fired shots on the home of Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar, one of Hamas' leaders. The shots were fired at his home, and there were no reports of injuries. It is also unclear whether the minister was at the house during the attack.
Palestinain sources said that the attack was perpetrated by members of the Dharmesh family, one of the largest families in Gaze. Two of the family's sons were killed last week, most likely by Hamas gunmen. The sources said that the attack came as a reminder from the family to the Hamas leadership, after they have set an ultimatum for the faction to hand over the killers of their sons.
Violence in Streets
New group called 'The Sword of Islam' commits attacks against businesses that 'offend Islam.' Latest victims include CD shop, internet café that 'are meeting places for forbidden relations'
Last week, as Hamas and Fatah forces clashed in Gaza, two members of the Dharmesh family were killed. One of the sons, Mahmoud, was a bodyguard for Samir Masharawi, a senior Fatah official in the Gaza Strip.
The family and the Fatah movement accused elements within the armed wing of Hamas and the special security force of the Palestinian government of involvement in the murder. The family members have already set ablaze several vehicles belonging to the Hamas special security force and threatened that if the killers are not handed to them, they will take the law into their hands and avenge the killing of their sons.
Hamas has responded to the allegations and said that if they find that their own people were responsible for the killings, the group will deal with the killers, but the family is not likely to accept this solution and is threatening a massive attack in retaliation.
On the other hand, Hamas have blamed elements in the Fatah for fueling tensions between the movement and the family, and even allege that Fatah supplied the family with weapons in order for them to attack senior officials from Hamas.
It is important to note that the members of the Dharmesh family are affiliated with almost every Palestinian faction and organization. Some family members are identified with Hamas, some with Fatah, and some with the Popular Resistance committees.
Sources in Gaza say, however, that the killing of the two relatives could reintroduce violence to the streets.
