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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| New Gaza clash outside hospital | New Gaza clash outside hospital |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Supporters of the two main Palestinian factions - Hamas and Fatah - have clashed again in the Gaza Strip. | Supporters of the two main Palestinian factions - Hamas and Fatah - have clashed again in the Gaza Strip. |
| One person, reportedly from Hamas, has been killed and several wounded outside the Shifa hospital in Gaza City. | One person, reportedly from Hamas, has been killed and several wounded outside the Shifa hospital in Gaza City. |
| A truce between the two factions had been agreed on Sunday, but there was renewed violence on Monday. | A truce between the two factions had been agreed on Sunday, but there was renewed violence on Monday. |
| Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who heads Fatah, has called for a new election, but Hamas, in power for less than a year, has rejected the idea. | Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who heads Fatah, has called for a new election, but Hamas, in power for less than a year, has rejected the idea. |
| Hamas said the gunbattle, which lasted for more than an hour, erupted after a group of armed men from Fatah stormed the hospital. | Hamas said the gunbattle, which lasted for more than an hour, erupted after a group of armed men from Fatah stormed the hospital. |
| The rival gunmen took up positions of rooftops, some firing rocket-propelled grenades at each other, the Associated Press news agency reported. | The rival gunmen took up positions of rooftops, some firing rocket-propelled grenades at each other, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
| WEEK OF TENSIONS 9 Dec - Mr Abbas' suggestion of early polls is backed by PLO leaders; Hamas denounces the idea10 Dec - Gunmen fire on the convoy of the Hamas interior minister11 Dec - Three sons of a Fatah security chief are shot on their way to school; both Fatah and Hamas condemn the killings14 Dec - Hamas PM Ismail Haniya's convoy comes under fire as he returns from Egypt, killing a bodyguard15 Dec - Hamas accuses key Fatah figure Mohammad Dahlan of being behind the attack on Mr Haniya, a charge he rejects16 Dec - Mr Abbas announces he will call early elections; Hamas calls the move a "coup"17 Dec - A truce is called following street battles between Hamas and Fatah supporters in Gaza, in which three people die Q&A: Palestinian crisis | WEEK OF TENSIONS 9 Dec - Mr Abbas' suggestion of early polls is backed by PLO leaders; Hamas denounces the idea10 Dec - Gunmen fire on the convoy of the Hamas interior minister11 Dec - Three sons of a Fatah security chief are shot on their way to school; both Fatah and Hamas condemn the killings14 Dec - Hamas PM Ismail Haniya's convoy comes under fire as he returns from Egypt, killing a bodyguard15 Dec - Hamas accuses key Fatah figure Mohammad Dahlan of being behind the attack on Mr Haniya, a charge he rejects16 Dec - Mr Abbas announces he will call early elections; Hamas calls the move a "coup"17 Dec - A truce is called following street battles between Hamas and Fatah supporters in Gaza, in which three people die Q&A: Palestinian crisis |
| Hamas said they had arrested two of the attackers. | Hamas said they had arrested two of the attackers. |
| There has been continued unrest since Mr Abbas called for early elections on Saturday. | There has been continued unrest since Mr Abbas called for early elections on Saturday. |
| The move was labelled a "coup" by Hamas, which won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January and controls the government. | The move was labelled a "coup" by Hamas, which won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January and controls the government. |
| The governing Palestinian movement said it would boycott the early elections. | The governing Palestinian movement said it would boycott the early elections. |
| Tony Blair, who is in the region, has backed the call for elections. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "everything should be done" to support Mr Abbas. | Tony Blair, who is in the region, has backed the call for elections. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "everything should be done" to support Mr Abbas. |
| Mr Abbas said he had called for early presidential and legislative elections to relieve "the current impasse". | Mr Abbas said he had called for early presidential and legislative elections to relieve "the current impasse". |
| Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal - who is based in Damascus - told the BBC that the president's actions were "against the law and against the constitution". | Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal - who is based in Damascus - told the BBC that the president's actions were "against the law and against the constitution". |
| "What's needed to address the inter-Palestinian crisis is national agreement, not actions by individuals, especially taken in response to foreign pressure." | "What's needed to address the inter-Palestinian crisis is national agreement, not actions by individuals, especially taken in response to foreign pressure." |
| Mr Meshaal said Hamas would take practical steps to stop early elections taking place, using "peaceful, popular pressure - not with violence". | Mr Meshaal said Hamas would take practical steps to stop early elections taking place, using "peaceful, popular pressure - not with violence". |
| Fragile truce | Fragile truce |
| There have been a series of clashes between members of Hamas and Fatah in recent days. On Sunday a ceasefire was reported, but outbreaks of violence have continued into Tuesday. | There have been a series of clashes between members of Hamas and Fatah in recent days. On Sunday a ceasefire was reported, but outbreaks of violence have continued into Tuesday. |
| Gaza residents on the violence and prospects of a new electionIn pictures | Gaza residents on the violence and prospects of a new electionIn pictures |
| A member of Mr Abbas' Fatah movement was shot dead on Monday, putting pressure on the truce. | A member of Mr Abbas' Fatah movement was shot dead on Monday, putting pressure on the truce. |
| Fatah said the man had been killed during an attempt to free three of its members kidnapped on Monday. Three others were hurt in the gunfight in Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza. | Fatah said the man had been killed during an attempt to free three of its members kidnapped on Monday. Three others were hurt in the gunfight in Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza. |
| Meanwhile, Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniya called on Mr Abbas to withdraw his security forces from Gaza's streets, saying their deployment endangered the truce, Reuters news agency reports. | Meanwhile, Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniya called on Mr Abbas to withdraw his security forces from Gaza's streets, saying their deployment endangered the truce, Reuters news agency reports. |
| Efforts are continuing behind the scenes to firm up the fragile verbal truce agreement, negotiated by mediators on Sunday without a meeting between Hamas and Fatah leaders. | Efforts are continuing behind the scenes to firm up the fragile verbal truce agreement, negotiated by mediators on Sunday without a meeting between Hamas and Fatah leaders. |
| Fighting between the two factions has paralysed the administration. | Fighting between the two factions has paralysed the administration. |
| The Palestinians have faced an international aid boycott since the election because of Hamas' refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel. |