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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas-allied police ban Fatah-organized festival on New Year's Day |
| 2007-12-30 |
| Ma'an – Hamas-allied Palestinian police in the Gaza Strip have banned a Fatah-organized festival scheduled for January 1st. Jamal Jarrah, the Deputy Director-General of Police in the de facto government of the Gaza Strip said Fatah leaders would not commit to 'police standards' required for the protection of civilians. He denied that the decision was politically motivated. Jarrah said he would not allow a repeat of the violence that marred Fatah-organized rallies commemorating the death of Yasser Arafat in November. Seven were shot dead after clashes between stone-throwing Fatah supporters and Hamas-affiliated police. "We are working to protect the lives of civilians," he said. Gaza Strip police detained a number of Fatah activists in An-Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The police said the detainees were "troublemakers." |
| Posted by:Fred |