Dozens of Palestinians, some of them armed, occupied the local government offices in a Gaza refugee camp for several hours Thursday, demanding assistance after a series of home demolitions by the Israeli army. The four-hour seizure, which ended with no injuries after intervention by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, was the latest sign of growing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip ahead of Israel's planned withdrawal from the area next year. Palestinian security forces, severely weakened by four years of conflict with Israel, have been vying for power ahead of the withdrawal. Taking advantage of the power vacuum, violent gangs roam freely, and militants accuse local officials of corruption and ineffectiveness.
| Yep. That's kind of a thumbnail description of Gaza. The sooner the Israelis are out, the sooner it'll implode. I don't even think I'll bother ululating when the last Gazan shoots the second-to-last Gazan... |
The office takeover came a day after Palestinian militants exploded a bomb at a West Bank checkpoint. The attack, aimed at Israeli troops, killed two Palestinian bystanders and wounded 16 people, including six Israeli guards. The bombing sparked a rare public display of frustration about Palestinians killing other Palestinians — and the bomber's apparent disregard for civilians. "Absolutely it is not beneficial for the Palestinian people and its struggle," Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said after meeting with U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn.
| "Only Jooos! Yer only supposed to boom Jooos!" |
During Thursday's standoff in Gaza, several dozen demonstrators marched into the governor's office in the Rafah refugee camp and ejected local officials. At least 10 gunmen were in the crowd, some of them wearing uniforms of the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a loosely organized group whose members staged Wednesday's bombing. Protester Yusef Shaat said the group members' homes were damaged or destroyed by Israeli troops about a week ago. "Our houses have been demolished. We have no homes, no beds, no clothes, and nobody from the Palestinian Authority comes to see us," he said.
| How's it feel to be part of the faceless masses? |
Izzat Abu Al-Khair, director of the governor's office,
| ... whose house wasn't blown up... |
said he reached a settlement with the group after Arafat authorized him to negotiate. The protesters then left the building and the staff returned, he said. Under the deal, the Palestinian Authority agreed to provide clothes and kitchen utensils to the displaced people and to repair damaged homes or rent housing for those whose homes were destroyed, Abu Al-Khair said. |