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/6323425.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| New fighting scuppers Gaza truce | New fighting scuppers Gaza truce |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Fresh fighting in the Gaza Strip has left at least 20 people dead over the past 24 hours, after a truce between the Fatah and Hamas factions collapsed. | Fresh fighting in the Gaza Strip has left at least 20 people dead over the past 24 hours, after a truce between the Fatah and Hamas factions collapsed. |
| However, a Hamas spokesman said a new ceasefire deal had been reached and would come into force on Friday. | However, a Hamas spokesman said a new ceasefire deal had been reached and would come into force on Friday. |
| More than 150 people have been injured in the fighting - the fiercest seen in Gaza since Hamas came to power in 2006. | More than 150 people have been injured in the fighting - the fiercest seen in Gaza since Hamas came to power in 2006. |
| Middle East mediators are due to meet to discuss the embargo against Hamas and moribund peace process with Israel. | Middle East mediators are due to meet to discuss the embargo against Hamas and moribund peace process with Israel. |
| The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says there is no doubt that the confrontation between Hamas and Fatah has moved to a new level. | The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says there is no doubt that the confrontation between Hamas and Fatah has moved to a new level. |
| Past flare-ups of violence there mainly involved light skirmishing on street corners and life could go on around them to a large degree, he says. | Past flare-ups of violence there mainly involved light skirmishing on street corners and life could go on around them to a large degree, he says. |
| But now the two sides are planning and carrying out much more comprehensive attacks on each other and doing so with a ferocity that makes all the streets dangerous, he adds. | But now the two sides are planning and carrying out much more comprehensive attacks on each other and doing so with a ferocity that makes all the streets dangerous, he adds. |
| I call upon everyone, regardless of their affiliation, to stop this bloodletting Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza viewpoint class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6324677.stm">Factions locked in struggle | |
| Reports say Palestinian Authority President and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal will meet in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday to try to end the fighting. | Reports say Palestinian Authority President and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal will meet in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday to try to end the fighting. |
| Hamas - which won legislative elections a year ago - and Fatah have been trying to form a unity government for months. | Hamas - which won legislative elections a year ago - and Fatah have been trying to form a unity government for months. |
| They are deadlocked over Hamas' rejection of international calls that it recognises Israel. | They are deadlocked over Hamas' rejection of international calls that it recognises Israel. |
| Western donors have been withholding aid, resulting in a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories. | Western donors have been withholding aid, resulting in a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories. |
| Buildings targeted | Buildings targeted |
| Fourteen people - including a woman and two children, plus at least two gunmen from either side and a senior member of Mr Abbas' intelligence service - were killed in clashes on Friday, bringing the death toll over 24 hours to at least 20. | Fourteen people - including a woman and two children, plus at least two gunmen from either side and a senior member of Mr Abbas' intelligence service - were killed in clashes on Friday, bringing the death toll over 24 hours to at least 20. |
| The truce, which was declared on Tuesday, was shattered when Hamas militants ambushed a convoy carrying equipment to the Fatah-allied security forces on Thursday. | The truce, which was declared on Tuesday, was shattered when Hamas militants ambushed a convoy carrying equipment to the Fatah-allied security forces on Thursday. |
| The Islamic University was overrun by Fatah and set ablaze | The Islamic University was overrun by Fatah and set ablaze |
| Six people died in the ensuing gun battle, triggering clashes across the Gaza Strip. | Six people died in the ensuing gun battle, triggering clashes across the Gaza Strip. |
| Speaking in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian leader appealed for calm. | Speaking in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian leader appealed for calm. |
| "I call upon everyone, regardless of their affiliation, to stop this bloodletting," Mr Abbas said. | "I call upon everyone, regardless of their affiliation, to stop this bloodletting," Mr Abbas said. |
| Earlier Hamas fighters attacked several bases used by Fatah or official state security services. | Earlier Hamas fighters attacked several bases used by Fatah or official state security services. |
| Meanwhile dozens of Fatah fighters laid siege to the interior ministry, run by Hamas. | Meanwhile dozens of Fatah fighters laid siege to the interior ministry, run by Hamas. |
| Our correspondent said bursts of fire could be heard every few minutes. | Our correspondent said bursts of fire could be heard every few minutes. |
| Sometimes there were much louder blasts, he said, and ambulance sirens wailed through the streets. | Sometimes there were much louder blasts, he said, and ambulance sirens wailed through the streets. |
| Overnight members of the presidential guard stormed the Islamic University - long regarded as a Hamas bastion - parts of which were later set on fire. | Overnight members of the presidential guard stormed the Islamic University - long regarded as a Hamas bastion - parts of which were later set 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. | 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. |
| Quartet talks | Quartet talks |
| Meanwhile the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, the UN, the US and Russia - was preparing to meet in Washington. | Meanwhile the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, the UN, the US and Russia - was preparing to meet in Washington. |
| The US said it expected the group to reaffirm its commitment to agreed conditions that the Hamas government must meet to receive international aid. | The US said it expected the group to reaffirm its commitment to agreed conditions that the Hamas government must meet to receive international aid. |
| The Quartet has cut off funding to the Hamas government because of its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence. | The Quartet has cut off funding to the Hamas government because of its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence. |
| Washington insists there is still a united position of isolating Hamas, the BBC's Jonathan Beale says from the US capital. | Washington insists there is still a united position of isolating Hamas, the BBC's Jonathan Beale says from the US capital. |
| But Russia has called for the embargo to be lifted, and the UN has questioned whether the current policy can be sustained, he adds. | But Russia has called for the embargo to be lifted, and the UN has questioned whether the current policy can be sustained, he adds. |