This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8082516.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Stand-off over Hamas militants in West Bank | Stand-off over Hamas militants in West Bank |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| One person has been killed in clashes as Palestinian Authority forces tried to arrest several Hamas militants holed up in the West Bank, the PA says. | One person has been killed in clashes as Palestinian Authority forces tried to arrest several Hamas militants holed up in the West Bank, the PA says. |
| A member of the security forces died when the militants threw a grenade at them as they surrounded a house in Qalqilya, a PA security spokesman said. | A member of the security forces died when the militants threw a grenade at them as they surrounded a house in Qalqilya, a PA security spokesman said. |
| Three or four fighters were inside, he said, but all the civilians had left. | Three or four fighters were inside, he said, but all the civilians had left. |
| The stand-off comes days after six people died in a gun battle in the town between Hamas fighters and police. | The stand-off comes days after six people died in a gun battle in the town between Hamas fighters and police. |
| Three people were injured in the latest incident, Palestinian security forces spokesman Major General Adnan Damiri said. | Three people were injured in the latest incident, Palestinian security forces spokesman Major General Adnan Damiri said. |
| He said the militants opened fire as soon as PA forces reached the area, and negotiations were continuing with those inside the house. | He said the militants opened fire as soon as PA forces reached the area, and negotiations were continuing with those inside the house. |
| The Palestinian Authority has carried out waves of arrests of West Bank residents it alleges are linked to the rival political faction Hamas over the past couple of years. | The Palestinian Authority has carried out waves of arrests of West Bank residents it alleges are linked to the rival political faction Hamas over the past couple of years. |
| But this incident is the second attempted arrest to have ended with deadly clashes in the past week. | |
| On Sunday, two Hamas men, three Palestinian policemen and one civilian died as the police attempted to arrest the alleged militants. | On Sunday, two Hamas men, three Palestinian policemen and one civilian died as the police attempted to arrest the alleged militants. |
| Some arrests have been seen by critics as politically motivated and linked to the feud between PA President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas in Gaza - although the PA says it is simply enforcing law and order. | Some arrests have been seen by critics as politically motivated and linked to the feud between PA President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas in Gaza - although the PA says it is simply enforcing law and order. |
| However, the Palestinian Authority, backed up by US support and training, is also tasked with clamping down on militant activity in the West Bank. | However, the Palestinian Authority, backed up by US support and training, is also tasked with clamping down on militant activity in the West Bank. |
| Hamas posted a statement on its website warning that attempts to "assassinate mujahudeen" - holy fighters - would cause the situation in the West Bank to "blow up". | Hamas posted a statement on its website warning that attempts to "assassinate mujahudeen" - holy fighters - would cause the situation in the West Bank to "blow up". |