GAZA (Reuters) - Clashes erupted between forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas government in Gaza on Wednesday, killing four people in the worst bout of fighting since the rivals agreed a fragile truce two weeks ago.The fresh violence is likely to revive fears among Palestinians that Gaza
At least 10 people were wounded in separate incidents across the Gaza Strip, hospital officials said. Among the dead were two security officials loyal to Abbas who were killed in the southern town of Khan Younis, hospital officials said. Abbas's Preventive Security force said the two were killed and another critically wounded when a Hamas police unit ambushed two of its vehicles. Hamas said the security force fired first.
In the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza, one woman was killed after getting caught in the crossfire of a fierce clash between rival forces. Nine others were wounded, mostly combatants, hospital officials said.
| Bet no French TV station makes a documentary about that poor woman. |
Gunmen also abducted four Fatah members from the streets, witnesses said. Fatah blamed Hamas, which declined to comment.
On top of the internal chaos, general law and order has deteriorated in Gaza in recent months.
Palestinian colleagues of a Peruvian photographer abducted by gunmen this week demanded his release on Wednesday, saying the 50-year-old's life was in danger because he needed medicine for heart disease. Sakher Abu El-Awn, Gaza office manager of the French news agency Agence France-Presse, said Jaime Razuri, who was seized outside the AFP Gaza City office on Monday, was taking several types of medication, including some for the heart problems. "We believe his life is at serious risk and we urge his captors to release him immediately," Abu El-Awn told Reuters.
| If he's that fragile perhaps Gaza wasn't the best place for him to snap pics. |
No one has claimed responsibility for Razuri's abduction.