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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Fatah storms Gaza 'Hamas campus' | Fatah storms Gaza 'Hamas campus' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Forces close to the Fatah party of the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, have stormed a university campus seen as a bastion of the rival Hamas movement. | Forces close to the Fatah party of the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, have stormed a university campus seen as a bastion of the rival Hamas movement. |
| The aim of the major operation was apparently to search for weapons, a BBC correspondent in Gaza says. | |
| Earlier on Thursday, six people died when Hamas militants hijacked a convoy delivering supplies to the Fatah-allied security forces. | Earlier on Thursday, six people died when Hamas militants hijacked a convoy delivering supplies to the Fatah-allied security forces. |
| Three days ago the two factions agreed a ceasefire after 30 deaths this year. | Three days ago the two factions agreed a ceasefire after 30 deaths this year. |
| There were reports throughout Thursday of skirmishes in various parts of the Gaza Strip and gunmen returning to the streets. | |
| 'Psychological victory' | |
| The assault on the Islamic University in Gaza City began late on Thursday. | |
| It was led by the presidential guard which serves the Fatah party leader, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, security sources say. | |
| At least two people were wounded in the heavy gun battle, and part of the building was on fire. | |
| A Fatah official said seven Iranians were arrested at the university and an eighth blew himself up during the operation. | |
| Hamas denied that any non-Palestinians were inside the campus. | |
| The storming of the university is a major psychological victory for the Fatah camp, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says. | |
| He says the university was founded by Hamas' late spiritual leader Sheikh Yassin, and almost all the major figures in the movement have graduated from it or taught at the campus. | |
| The party will be stunned that for the moment at least the university is in the hands of its rival, our correspondent says. | |
| He adds that the fact that it has even been targeted reveal the extent in which the latest fighting has gone beyond anything that has been seen in previous rounds of factional violence in Gaza. | |
| Highly sensitive issue | Highly sensitive issue |
| Earlier on Thursday, gun battles erupted in the centre of the Gaza Strip after Hamas attacked and captured a lorry it said was carrying weapons to the presidential guard, brought in from Israel. | |
| Fatah denied there were any weapons on board the vehicle, adding that the small convoy of lorries was carrying generators and mechanical spare parts. | Fatah denied there were any weapons on board the vehicle, adding that the small convoy of lorries was carrying generators and mechanical spare parts. |
| The reinforcement of the troops around Mr Abbas is a highly sensitive issue, our correspondent says. | |
| He says Mr Abbas favours adopting a softer Palestinian line than Hamas in regard to the confrontation with Israel, and the Israelis and the US are keen to bolster Mr Abbas' forces. | |
| Washington recently agreed to supply the presidential guard with what it said would be non-lethal equipment. | Washington recently agreed to supply the presidential guard with what it said would be non-lethal equipment. |
| Hamas has denounced the American involvement as blatant meddling designed to provoke conflict in the Palestinian territories. | Hamas has denounced the American involvement as blatant meddling designed to provoke conflict in the Palestinian territories. |