By IBRAHIM BARZAK Associated Press GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Gunbattles raged in the streets of Gaza City on Tuesday between the Hamas and Fatah movements, killing at least four people in factional fighting that shredded a shaky truce. At least 18 people were wounded, including five children caught in the crossfire.
Automatic gunfire echoed across the city, and a Fatah security installation was attacked with mortar fire. Masked Hamas gunmen set up makeshift checkpoints on main roads, forces from the two sides took up strategic positions, and terrified residents shut themselves indoors.
The fighting marked the latest unrest in a week of factional violence that showed no signs of slowing despite a cease-fire declared by both sides Sunday.
"It's a real war. Since the morning, I've been praying to God that this is going to end," said Suleiman Tuman, a 53-year-old shopkeeper trapped in his grocery store by the battles.
"Both sides used to fight the Israelis together. Now they are directing their weapons toward each other, and we're in the middle," he said. "Both sides are responsible for this war."
"But I blame
Hamas and Fatah have been locked in a power struggle since the Islamic militant group defeated Fatah in legislative elections last January. President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, which seeks peace with Israel, controls the presidency, while the radical Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction, controls parliament and the Palestinian Cabinet.
The latest wave of fighting broke out last week, and worsened after Abbas announced plans Saturday to call early elections. Hamas has condemned the plan as a coup, and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has said the Islamic group would boycott any new vote.
In all,
Haniyeh planned a televised speech later Tuesday. Seeking to ease the tensions, Haniyeh canceled a planned Hamas demonstration, Hamas officials said.
Jordan's King Abdullah II offered to host talks between the Palestinian president and the leader of Hamas to resolve the bloody confrontation.
"Jordan is willing to do all it can to help the Palestinians overcome their differences and to bolster Palestinian unity," said a statement issued by the royal palace in Amman.
The
Tuesday's heavy fighting began when a member of the Fatah-controlled intelligence service arrived at Gaza City's Shifa hospital with a broken leg, accompanied by two armed colleagues. Hamas militiamen guarding the hospital blocked the armed men from entering and tried to arrest them.
When more Fatah loyalists arrived, they were fired on, sparking the gunfight, Fatah officials said.
Hamas accused Fatah of storming the hospital and said a 23-year-old member of a Hamas police unit was killed. It also said one of its men was captured.
The battle raged for nearly an hour, sending children scurrying for cover as they made their way to school. The fighting later spread to one of the main offices of the Fatah-controlled intelligence service, which was attacked by
Hospital officials said two pro-Fatah security men died in the fighting, including one who was shot as he sat in a parked vehicle. During one clash, five children were wounded by stray gunfire, the officials said. There were no immediate details on their conditions.
Sucking head wounds.
In other fighting, a Fatah security official was captured and killed by Hamas gunmen, Fatah officials said. Elsewhere, the car of the governor of northern Gaza, a prominent Fatah loyalist, was hit by gunfire. The governor, Ismail Abu Shamallah, escaped injury, officials said.
Hamas and Fatah officials insisted they remained committed to the truce and accused each other of violating the deal.
"Hamas is abiding by the
Ibrahim Abu al-Najah, a mediator who helped arrange the
"What is going on is a violation and sabotage, and I have called on both parties to shoulder their responsibility and to end what is going on in the streets," he said.
Tensions have been high since the collapse in November of Abbas' efforts to form a moderate unity government with Hamas. Abbas had sought a coalition in hopes of ending international sanctions against the Hamas-led government, which has been isolated due to its refusal to recognize Israel.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, chief of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference, urged calm after meeting with Abbas in Ramallah, West Bank.
"We have some practical ideas to deal with the crisis situation," he said, before departing for Gaza to talk to Haniyeh. "There are some positive steps. We hope they will be taken."
Despite the fighting, Abbas said Monday that he would push ahead with new elections. With British Prime Minister Tony Blair by his side, Abbas also reached out to Israel in hopes momentum toward peacemaking would provide an electoral edge over Hamas. The United States tentatively endorsed Abbas' call for early elections.
After meeting with Blair late Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he hoped to have a summit with Abbas "very soon" and said officials from both sides were working on the preparations.