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Gaza fugitives 'being sent back' | Gaza fugitives 'being sent back' |
(about 4 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. | 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. |
Hamas said it detained 30 on return but has released all but five. | |
The detained men were reported to be members of a Fatah-affiliated clan that Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, 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. | Twenty-two of those who crossed the border were taken to hospitals in Israel for medical treatment, Israel's military said. |
'Military rule' | |
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. |
Hamas and Fatah have to stop fighting for all of us Falastin SefadyMother of bombing victim Hamas and Fatah battle for power | |
It also agreed to an initial request by Palestinian Authority leaders to send the men to the West Bank. | 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. |
Ziad Abu Sammak, one of the injured men being treated in an Israeli hospital, said it was his duty to go back to Gaza. | |
"We won't give up Gaza - our families and children are there," he told the BBC. | |
"Of course we are all scared because Hamas is using military rule not democratic rule. Anyone who is not from Hamas might be beaten, or his house destroyed, or even killed." | |
Accusations | Accusations |
In the worst factional fighting in Gaza for more than a year, nine people were killed and 90 injured as Hamas gunmen besieged the built-up neighbourhood of the Fatah-affiliated clan, reports the BBC's Aleem Maqbool from Ramallah. | |
The Fatah men - some of whom were injured - ran to the border crossing where an Israeli army spokesman said some had laid down their weapons. | |
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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. | 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. |
While Hamas insists that Palestinian factional reconciliation is still possible, our correspondent says the weekend's events have put a huge strain on already bitter relations. | |
Bombing suspects | |
Hamas had accused Fatah supporters of involvement in a bombing a week ago that killed five Hamas members and a young girl. | 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. |