MIDDLE EAST: Just days after Palestinian police fanned out across Gaza to enforce a weapons ban, fighting erupted yesterday between Palestinian Authority forces and Hamas gunmen, leaving two people dead and 30 injured.
In the worst in-fighting since Israel completed its withdrawal from Gaza last month, a gun battle erupted after police attempted to stop a car carrying several armed Hamas men in Gaza City. As the car sped off, Palestinian police opened fire and Hamas militants returned fire.
The gun battle quickly spread to other parts of Gaza City, with Hamas militants storming a police station in the Shati refugee camp, during which hand grenades were thrown at the security forces and several police vehicles were torched.
Palestinian officials said two policemen were killed during the assault on the station. The injured included 10 policemen and 20 Hamas militants.
Some Hamas leaders have said they will not adhere to the Palestinian Authority decree banning the carrying of weapons in public, and have accused the authority of trying to wipe them out. "There is a stream within the Palestinian Authority that is trying to root out Hamas and is planning a major assault", said Mohammed Nazal, a senior movement member, in Damascus yesterday. "The hands of these people - who are sponsored by Washington and London - are dripping with Palestinian blood, and Hamas will confront them, even if this means civil war."
The Palestinian Authority blamed Hamas for the bloodshed. "Hamas bears full responsibility for the result of these acts and the serious violation of law and order and playing with the blood of our people," the interior ministry said in a statement.
The factional fighting comes against the backdrop of tension between the ruling Fatah party and Hamas over recent local elections, as well as a general election scheduled for January. The violence is also a challenge to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who has pledged to impose law and order on the streets of Gaza.
Mr Abbas, meanwhile, is set to meet Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon before the Palestinian leader departs for a visit to Washington on October 20th.