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| Eight killed in 'ambush by Hamas' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Palestinian gunmen from militant group Hamas have attacked pro-Fatah forces near the Gaza-Israel border, killing at least eight people, reports say. | |
| Pro-Fatah security officials described the attack as a major Hamas ambush on a Presidential Guards training camp. | |
| At least 16 people have died in Gaza since Sunday in the worst outbreak of factional violence in several months. | At least 16 people have died in Gaza since Sunday in the worst outbreak of factional violence in several months. |
| Meanwhile a 500-strong contingent of fighters has entered Gaza from Egypt, thought to be pro-Fatah reinforcements. | |
| EU monitors told the BBC the unarmed men in plain clothes were allowed through with the consent of the Israeli authorities. | |
| We consider this a serious provocation and a crime committed in cold blood Pro-Fatah security force spokesman Reports quoting western diplomats say the men were sent to Egypt by senior Fatah figure Muhammad Dahlan to receive advanced instruction in police tactics. | |
| The Palestinian government says it has mobilised all of its security forces in an attempt to stop the violence. | The Palestinian government says it has mobilised all of its security forces in an attempt to stop the violence. |
| But the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in the West Bank says in many cases it is the security forces themselves who are involved in the fighting. | |
| Training camp | |
| The clash took place near the key Karni crossing point, and drew fire from Israeli troops guarding the border. | |
| Reports say the Karni fighting erupted when Hamas gunmen approached a training base used by the pro-Fatah Presidential Guard which is responsible for security on the Palestinian side of the Karni crossing. | Reports say the Karni fighting erupted when Hamas gunmen approached a training base used by the pro-Fatah Presidential Guard which is responsible for security on the Palestinian side of the Karni crossing. |
| A Presidential Guard spokesman said the Karni base was attacked with rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, in remarks quoted by the Associated Press. | |
| After the ambush, bodies were seen strewn in the grass near an overturned security vehicle. | After the ambush, bodies were seen strewn in the grass near an overturned security vehicle. |
| The base had been set up with US assistance to train Palestinian security forces monitoring the crossing. | The base had been set up with US assistance to train Palestinian security forces monitoring the crossing. |
| The recruits there are largely unarmed, Presidential Guard spokesman Ahmed Kaisi is quoted as saying. | The recruits there are largely unarmed, Presidential Guard spokesman Ahmed Kaisi is quoted as saying. |
| "We consider this a serious provocation and a crime committed in cold blood," he said. | "We consider this a serious provocation and a crime committed in cold blood," he said. |
| There has been no confirmation from Hamas of its fighters being involved in the clash. | There has been no confirmation from Hamas of its fighters being involved in the clash. |
| At one point, the Israeli army said its troops opened fire at a group of gunmen who approached the border. | At one point, the Israeli army said its troops opened fire at a group of gunmen who approached the border. |
| Witnesses said the Hamas force quickly withdrew when three Israeli tanks approached the Karni training camp. | Witnesses said the Hamas force quickly withdrew when three Israeli tanks approached the Karni training camp. |
| Attack on Hamas | Attack on Hamas |
| On Monday, Interior Minister Hani Qawasmi resigned amid the violence, prompting Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya to take personal control of security in Gaza. | On Monday, Interior Minister Hani Qawasmi resigned amid the violence, prompting Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya to take personal control of security in Gaza. |
| Overnight, a member of its armed wing was reportedly shot dead and another supporter was wounded in eastern Gaza City, when unknown gunmen ambushed a minibus carrying Hamas fighters. | Overnight, a member of its armed wing was reportedly shot dead and another supporter was wounded in eastern Gaza City, when unknown gunmen ambushed a minibus carrying Hamas fighters. |
| Another Hamas loyalist was reported wounded when gunmen opened fire near a checkpoint controlled by pro-Fatah security officers. | Another Hamas loyalist was reported wounded when gunmen opened fire near a checkpoint controlled by pro-Fatah security officers. |
| The latest round of killing erupted on Sunday when five people died and 18 were injured in inter-factional clashes, ending a period of relative calm since Hamas and Fatah members joined a unity government in a bid to end a period of chaos in the Gaza Strip. | The latest round of killing erupted on Sunday when five people died and 18 were injured in inter-factional clashes, ending a period of relative calm since Hamas and Fatah members joined a unity government in a bid to end a period of chaos in the Gaza Strip. |
| About 170 people have died in clashes between the Fatah and Hamas factions since Hamas won parliamentary elections in January 2006. |