25 Killed in Palestinian Fighting

Fighting between rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah escalated on Tuesday, according to the New York Times, with Hamas occupying much of the northern Gaza strip. According to Palestinian medics, about 25 were killed and over 100 were wounded. In just one Hamas attack in northern Gaza of Fatah security headquarters, 21 were reported killed and another 60 wounded.

After Jamal Abu al-Jediyan, a Fatah leader, was killed on Monday, Fatah's Presidential Guards, trained by the United States and its allies, fired rocket-propelled grenades at the house of Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas. In retribution, an hour later, Hamas fired four mortar shells at the presidential office compound of Mahmoud Abbas.

Both factions have stated that they believe the other side is attempting a military coup against Palestinian authority. Fatah stated after Tuesday's incident that until fighting stops, their participation in the unity government with Hamas will cease. Their agreement to govern together was created in an attempt to secure international aid and recognition as well as to stop the fighting between the two factions. Neither goal has been successfully achieved.

Lt. Col. Burhan Hamad, head of the Egyptian mediation team attempted to hold truce talks on Tuesday, but neither side responded. He said of the situation, "it seems they don't want to come. We must make them ashamed of themselves. They have killed all hope. They have killed the future." Some believe that this may be the beginning of a civil war. Political scientist Talal Okal has said, "if Abbas decides to move his security forces onto the attack, and not to only defend, we'll find ourselves in a much wider cycle."

After a gun battle that day where 200 Hamas fighter surrounded Fatah security headquarters, Fatah militants abducted and killed the nephew of Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a Hamas leader assassinated by Israel in April 2004, greatly angering Hamas. Hamas gunmen attacked the home of a Fatah security official as well, killing his son as well as three woman that happened to be inside.

Since Monday, at least 43 Palestinians have died as a result of the fighting. A Hamas spokesmen accused Fatah of trying to destroy Hamas and overturn the results of elections held in January where they won legislative majority. This renewed violence has resulted in a hindered effort by United Nations Relief and Work Agency to provide much needed aid, says the New York Times. According to its Gaza director, John Ging, "The violence is compounding an already dreadful humanitarian situation."

Source:

Erlanger, Steven. "Palestinian Fight for Power Escalates." New York Times. 13 June 2007. 13 June 2007 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/world/middleeast/13mideast.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin