Gunmen exchanged fire in Gaza City early on Friday close to the home of the foreign minister in the Hamas-led government, Palestinian witnesses said. It was not immediately clear if the heavy gunfire near the home of Mahmoud al-Zahar was a clash between rival Hamas and Fatah factions, though residents said they suspected the gunmen were from a local clan rather than Fatah. Residents said the gunmen opened fire at al-Zahar's home, which sparked the exchanges with Hamas fighters.| More, from Jerusalem Post... |
| Hamas blamed the kidnapping on a clan affiliated with Fatah that was trying to avenge the killing of two of its members in an earlier round of factional fighting. |
Got all that?
That wave of violence, which broke out last week, killed 16 people and left dozens injured across Gaza, before a truce took effect Tuesday night.
And then the carnage stopped, of course, except that...
But the new violence broke out when Hamas militiamen tried to free the two kidnapped fighters and engaged in a firefight with the Fatah-affiliated militants behind the abductions, Hamas officials said.
"Take that, youse militants! [BANG! BANG! BANGETY BANG!]"
"Die, next thing to infidels! [KAPOW! KABOOM!]"
In the tense atmosphere pervading Gaza, the fight quickly spread out of control, encompassing the presidential guard outside Abbas' house, other security officers in the area and the Hamas militiamen guarding Zahar's home and the nearby Foreign Ministry building. Gunmen manning strategic positions on rooftops began shooting at others in the streets. The presidential guard took up defensive positions behind newly built walls of sandbags and barriers of cement blocs outside Abbas' residence. Hamas officials said the Fatah gunmen shot at Zahar's home. One witness estimated that more than 2,000 bullets were fired in the first 10 minutes and several rocket-propelled grenades were also launched.
"Bullets're cheap, Mahmoud! Keep firin'! Y'might hit somebody!"
| Bullets are cheap ... yeah, tell that to the tunnel guy ... |
