Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya appealed for Palestinian unity and continuing resistance to Israel Monday amid a standoff with moderate president Mahmoud Abbas and clashes between their rival supporters. “Stop the bloodshed, stop using weapons against your brothers, and unite,” Haniya told a crowd of about 20,000 gathered in Gaza City after prayers for the Eid al-Fitr feast marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.Supporters of his ruling Hamas movement and Abbas’ rival Fatah faction have clashed repeatedly since the Islamists routed Fatah from power in January elections, with the confrontations increasing during the past weeks.
On Sunday, a member of the security services loyal to Abbas was killed in clashes with Hamas forces, two days after gunmen opened fire near HaniyaÂ’s convoy, the latest of more than two dozen people killed in the internecine violence.