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Gaza fugitives 'being sent back' | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A group of 188 Palestinians granted refuge in Israel amid deadly fighting between rival factions Hamas and Fatah are being returned to Gaza. | |
The men, members of a clan allied to Fatah, were allowed into Israel after fighting left nine dead on Saturday. | The men, members of a clan allied to Fatah, were allowed into Israel after fighting left nine dead on Saturday. |
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads Fatah, told Israel not to transfer them to the West Bank, as he had earlier requested. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads Fatah, told Israel not to transfer them to the West Bank, as he had earlier requested. |
Some 32 have already returned to Gaza, where Hamas says it has detained them. | |
The men are reported to be members of a Fatah-affiliated clan that Hamas blames for a recent bomb attack in Gaza. | |
Twenty-two of those who crossed the border were taken to hospitals in Israel for medical treatment, Israel's military said. | |
Hamas and Fatah have to stop fighting for all of us Falastin SefadyMother of bombing victim Hamas and Fatah battle for power | Hamas and Fatah have to stop fighting for all of us Falastin SefadyMother of bombing victim Hamas and Fatah battle for power |
Israel opened the border after both Egypt and President Abbas asked for the men to be allowed in. | Israel opened the border after both Egypt and President Abbas asked for the men to be allowed in. |
It also agreed to an initial request by Palestinian Authority leaders to send the men to the West Bank. | |
However, Israel's defence ministry now says Mr Abbas has asked for the group to be sent back into Gaza. | However, Israel's defence ministry now says Mr Abbas has asked for the group to be sent back into Gaza. |
One Fatah official, Hussein al-Shaikh, said the Palestinian Authority was discussing with Israel exactly how to return the men. | One Fatah official, Hussein al-Shaikh, said the Palestinian Authority was discussing with Israel exactly how to return the men. |
Accusations | Accusations |
The Fatah men - some of whom were injured - ran to the border crossing after a day of bloody fighting with their bitter rivals Hamas, who control the Gaza Strip, left nine people dead and a further 90 injured. | |
An Israeli army spokesman said some had laid down their weapons as they approached the crossing. | An Israeli army spokesman said some had laid down their weapons as they approached the crossing. |
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Fatah loyalists are security searched by Israeli border forces | Fatah loyalists are security searched by Israeli border forces |
When Israeli soldiers went to open the fence, they came under heavy fire, presumably by Hamas, the spokesman said. | When Israeli soldiers went to open the fence, they came under heavy fire, presumably by Hamas, the spokesman said. |
The Fatah supporters were handcuffed and stripped for security screening as they crossed into Israel. | |
Fatah and Hamas blamed each other for starting the fighting on Saturday. | Fatah and Hamas blamed each other for starting the fighting on Saturday. |
Reports say that the clashes broke out during a raid by Hamas on the stronghold of the clan. | |
Hamas had accused Fatah supporters of involvement in a bombing a week ago that killed five Hamas members and a young girl. | |
Hamas fighters had tried to storm the family home of the Hilles clan in Gaza City on Saturday morning, using grenades and mortars, reports say. | Hamas fighters had tried to storm the family home of the Hilles clan in Gaza City on Saturday morning, using grenades and mortars, reports say. |
A spokesman for the Hamas-run interior ministry accused the clan of hiding bombing suspects in its compound. | A spokesman for the Hamas-run interior ministry accused the clan of hiding bombing suspects in its compound. |
"The Hilles family has become a military force and members of the family have been attacking, abducting and even killing people," spokesman Ehab al-Ghasin said. | "The Hilles family has become a military force and members of the family have been attacking, abducting and even killing people," spokesman Ehab al-Ghasin said. |
The family denied the accusation. | The family denied the accusation. |