Gunmen on the streets of Gaza (archive photo)
Photo: AFP
Gunmen target Haniyeh’s home
Three killed as Palestinian infighting flares in Gaza, gunmen target prime minister’s house
Clashes re-erupted in Gaza early Monday when gunmen opened fire in the house of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.
There were no immediate reports of casualties in the attack on Haniyeh’s house in the Shati refugee camp next to Gaza City. It was the first time in a month of infighting that Haniyeh was an apparent target, underlining an escalation in tactics by the warring sides.
At least three Palestinians were killed in gun battles between Fatah and Hamas combatants in the Gaza Strip Sunday.
Among the casualties was the imam of a Hamas-affiliated mosque, who was executed by Fatah gunmen.
Earlier Palestinian sources reported that a member of Fatah’s Force 17 plummeted to his death Sunday after being thrown by Hamas gunmen from the 15th floor of a Gaza City high-rise.
The Fatah man, Muhammad Sawirky, 25, was kidnapped along with another Force 17 member near one of the city’s mosques; his body was found several hours later with numerous signs of violence on it, according to medical sources.
The Fatah member’s death prompted clashes in different parts of the city; at least 11 people were injured.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Guard, which includes Force 17, accused Hamas of attacking and abusing its members and warned that such acts may result in an escalation of violence between the rival factions.
The Egyptian delegation to Gaza is attempting to calm the situation, with its head blaming “satanic elements” for fuelling the infighting in the Strip.
He called on the factions to maintain unity and respect the truce agreement.
Two Palestinians were killed and 40 others were injured in Hamas-Fatah clashes over the weekend.
The Associated Press contributed to this article
