Fighting erupted in the northern Gaza Strip today and a Hamas gunman was killed, the first fatality in such clashes since the Islamist movement agreed with its Fatah rivals to form a unity government a month ago.
Explosions from mortar bombs and rocket-propelled grenades shook the town of Beit Hanoun in the early hours after a shootout for which each side blamed the other.
The fighting died down by morning at the urging of Hamas and Fatah leaders.
Seven Palestinians were wounded, including at least one Hamas gunman and two from Fatah, residents and doctors said.
The violence broke out just hours after Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of the Islamist Hamas movement said a unity government would be announced in the next few days.
The coalition agreement reached in the Saudi city of Mecca on February 8 had halted weeks of bloody factional fighting in which more than 90 people were killed in the Gaza Strip.
The man killed in today's incident was identified as Mohammad al-Kafarna, a member of the Hamas-led government's Executive Force. Hamas accused Fatah of ambushing his car.
Fatah spokesman Abdel-Halim Awad said Hamas fighters had fired first on a car carrying members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, linked to President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction.
Fighting quickly spread in Beit Hanoun as Hamas forces attacked a Fatah office and a separate security complex.
Fatah security forces declared a high alert in northern Gaza, ordering their men to reinforce their positions and set up checkpoints to intercept Hamas vehicles.
Tension had risen yesterday after Fatah gunmen shot at the convoy of a Hamas cabinet minister in the occupied West Bank, and gunmen stormed the pro-Fatah Al Quds University in Gaza City, wounding a Fatah student council member.