VIDEO - Gunmen from the rival Hamas and Fatah movements battled each other in Gaza Sunday, continuing an increasingly bloody power struggle over the Palestinian government that left the coastal strip littered with dead over the weekend, while civilians cowered in their homes. An explosion early in the morning rocked the home of a bodyguard to Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan, but the man was not in the building and no casualties were reported. At least eight people were wounded in exchanges of fire between the sides overnight, Palestinian security officials said. On Saturday, gunmen battled in the Strip for a third straight day, firing mortars and grenades in clashes that killed six people, including a 2-year-old infant. The deaths brought to 24 the number of Palestinians killed since Thursday, with at least 68 people wounded, many reported kidnapped and efforts to forge a coalition government at a standstill. The latest fighting, which started late Thursday after a Hamas activist was killed in a bombing, has been among the deadliest in nearly two months of clashes. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and a spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah both issued appeals for calm earlier on Saturday but after a brief lull, fighting flared up again and Gaza City's streets were deserted as Palestinians sought shelter in their homes. House of a Hamas activist destroyed by Fatah gunmen (Photo: AP) Local sources reported that a Hamas operative, Aziz al-Khatib, was killed near the Islamic University in Gaza City, by gunmen. In another incident a member of the presidential guard was killed after gunmen, apparently Hamas operatives, opened fire at his vehicle. Several other security officers were injured, one of them sustained serious wounds. Palestinian Authority officials will attempt to ease the tensions, particularly in light of Hamas and Fatah's declarations they will suspend their participation in the talks over a unity government. Baby killed in cross fire Among the numerous casualties reported in the past 72 hours is a two-year-old boy who was killed in Khan Younis late Saturday night during a shootout between Hamas and Fatah gunmen. Also Saturday night two as-of-yet unidentified men were killed in a car explosion north of Gaza City, Palestinian security and hospital officials said. Numerous others who were shot since Thursday died of their wounds and reports of gunfire continued to pour in from all over Gaza. Overnight, Hamas mounted a raid on the Gaza headquarters of the so-called Preventive Security service, a force dominated by Fatah members. Hamas pounded the compound with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, injuring at least two Fatah members. Rocket-propelled grenades were also fired overnight at the home of Rashid Abu Shbak, an Abbas loyalist in charge of internal security in the Palestinian Authority. It was unclear whether Shbak was home at the time but there were no injuries. The Gaza home of Mahmoud al-Zahar, the Palestinian Foreign Minister and Hamas leader, was also hit by grenades but no one was injured. Both Fatah and Hamas officials said late Friday that unity talks would be suspended until the fighting ends. Both sides blamed each other for the breakdown. Overnight, Hamas mounted a raid on the Gaza headquarters of the so-called Preventive Security service, a force dominated by Fatah members. Hamas pounded the compound with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades, injuring at least two Fatah members. Rocket-propelled grenades were also fired overnight at the home of Rashid Abu Shbak, an Abbas loyalist in charge of internal security in the Palestinian Authority. It was unclear whether Shbak was home at the time but there were no injuries. News agencies contributed to the report