Gaza streets on fire
Photo: AFP
4 killed in Gaza clashes
Murder of al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member leads to renewed violence in Gaza Strip; four men found dead in past 24 hours
Despite the Mecca agreement and the formation of the new unity government, which brought hope to the Palestinian people, four Palestinians have been killed in internal fighting in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours.
Feud Resumes
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
The clashes broke out after Rami Sarur, a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Fatah's military wing, was killed in Beit Lahiya on Wednesday.
Sarur was linked to Samih al-Madhoun, a senior leader of Fatah-affiliated al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades and his death led to a wave of violence between Fatah and Hamas.
On Thursday morning, a 45-year-old Palestinian was killed by gunfire in Gaza City.
The man's relatives took to the streets and began fighting with Fatah gunmen and the government's special security force which is loyal to Hamas. Six people were injured in this incident.
Two other men were reportedly killed in separate incidents.
Sources in the Strip said they were unsure if these incidents were directly related to factional violence, but state that the high number of deaths prove that despite the unity government, anarchy still rules the Palestinian street.
Palestinian organizations, including the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, are attempting to calm the situation.
Hamas claimed that it has no direct connection to the incidents and that the al-Aqsa activist killed on Wednesday was hit by a mortar shell which he planned to fire at Hamas men but blew up prematurely.
Hamas also claimed that Thursday morning's killing was the result of a dispute between families and that they knew nothing of the other two incidents.
