By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
GAZA CITY and RAFAH, Gaza – Tensions between Hamas’s police forces and Gaza residents resulted in several deaths in the worst outbreak of in-fighting in Gaza since June. There are two separate internal conflicts developing inside Gaza. First, fighting between Hamas and the Heles clan broke out on October 17, when Hamas’s security forces tried to arrest members of the Heles clan in Gaza City. The large Heles clan is affiliated with the Fatah party. Fighting between the two groups resulted in four deaths, two from Hamas and two were clan members, and at least 20 injuries. The fighting involved rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns.
Later, on October 20, violence between the two groups broke out again when members of the Heles clan fired on a car carrying members of Hamas. Witnesses state that Hamas snipers took to the rooftops while clan members blockaded the streets with rocks and sand. The fighting resulted in two deaths; Mohammed Susi, a 13-year old boy, and a man who was a member of the Heles family. Tensions between the two groups remain high after Hamas demanded that the clan hand over a “wanted gunman”.
Second, fighting broke out in Rafah, between Hamas and Islamic Jihad. On October 20, fighting between the two groups resulted in the death of a 51-year old woman and 15 people injured. According to Hamas, a member of the Islamic Jihad was killed on October 21, when members of the Islamic Jihad attempted to kidnap a member of Hamas. The attempt was foiled and 15 members of the Islamic Jihad were seized.
However, later on October 21, the two groups agreed to a renewed cease-fire. In a joint statement, the members of the groups agreed to return abductees and to withdraw their gunmen from the streets. The deal was brokered by the Popular Resistance Committees, who will also observe the withdrawal.
For more information, please see:
BBC – Man killed in Palestinian clashes – 22 October 2007
International Middle East Media Center – New Hamas-Islamic Jihad ceasefire announced after one Palestinian is killed in Rafah – 22 October 2007
AFP – Three Palestinians killed in factional clashes in Gaza – 21 October 2007
Associated Press – Hamas police battle Fatah clan; 2 killed – 21 October 2007
BBC – Three die in heavy Gaza fighting – 21 October 2007
Reuters – One Palestinian killed in internal Gaza fighting – 21 October 2007
International Herald Tribune – Palestinian woman killed in clashes between Hamas and Islamic Jihad – 20 October 2007
International Herald Tribune – Young man, teenage boy killed in battle between Hamas police, Fatah clan – 20 October 2007
New York Times – 2 killed in Gaza fighting between clan and Hamas – 20 October 2007
BBC – Four die as Gaza factions clash – 18 October 2007
International Herald Tribune – Four killed in fighting between Hamas and Gaza clan – 17 October 2007
