Report: Fatah instigating conflict between Islamic Jihad, Hamas

Since Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza, their rivals in Fatah have been trying to regain control of the coastal strip—or at least regain some respect.

The Nazareth-based daily al-Sinara reports that Fatah members have been slyly joining other Palestinian groups, such as the Islamic Jihad, in an attempt to push these groups toward confrontation with Hamas.

Fatah activists in question did not join other Palestinian groups to aid them, but rather to "incite them into a civil war with Hamas," he continued.

"Fatah members in Islamic Jihad are the ones that have been shooting at the Executive Force (Hamas' security body) and at Hamas activists," the source said.

According to the source, the recent confrontations between Hamas and Islamic Jihad forces have been a result of this phenomenon.

On Sunday, a Palestinian was killed in an exchange of fire between Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The victim was the nephew of Khaled Mansour, an Islamic Jihad commander in southern Gaza. He was apparently killed in a Hamas attempt to murder his uncle, Palestinian sources said.

Islamic Jihad claims that Hamas is trying to liquidate Palestinian opposition to its rule in Gaza.

The Islamic Resistance Committee has refused to integrate Fatah members into its ranks because of a fear that this will incite conflict with Hamas, according to the source.

Since Hamas seized control of the Strip, exchanges of fire between various armed Palestinian groups has become a common occurrence. The latest confrontation between Fatah and Hamas led to four deaths at least 20 injured.