Gaza: Fatah member killed in clashes with Hamas
Fatah says Hamas’ Executive Force fired RPG at senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades commander’s home in first deadly clash since unity cabinet formed. ‘Hamas no better than Israel in honoring agreements,’ relative of man killed in attack says
Fatah said Hamas’ so-called Executive Force fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the northern Gaza home of senior al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades commander Samih el-Madhoun, killing Rami Sarur, one of his top aides.
According to Fatah, four gunmen were wounded in the battle, but the al-Aqsa commander was unharmed.
“It has been proven that as far as honoring agreements is concerned Hamas is no better that the Israelis,” Sarur’s relative told Ynet.
El-Madhoun, whose brother was critically wounded in the attack, has orchestrated the kidnapping of Hamas members over the past few months and is considered a bitter enemy of the Islamic group.
According to Palestinian sources, el-Madhoun appeared in several videotapes released by Fatah in which he was seen humiliating Hamas captives. In the past Hamas members burned down businesses belonging to the commander’s family members.
Fatah spokesman Abdel Hakim Awad said Hamas had planned the attack in advance and warned of “grave consequences” if the Islamists mounted any more.
A spokesman for Hamas’ armed wing, Abu Ubaida, said Hamas gunmen had only responded to shooting from the al-Aqsa commander’s house. He said a Fatah fighter was preparing to fire a rocket-propelled grenade when it exploded in his hands, killing him and wounding the others.
Fourteen Palestinians were injured in the persuant exchange of fire between Hamas and Fatah members in the northern Gaza Strip Wednesday night. At least four were seriously injured.
An Islamic university professor, affiliated with the militant Hamas movement, was kidnapped by gunmen late Wednesday, Hamas officials said.
The professor, Hamad al-Sousi, was abducted as he was leaving evening prayers at a mosque south of Gaza City, they said. It was the first such kidnapping since a new Fatah-Hamas government took office Saturday.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this article
