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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Gaza gun battles rage on unabated | Gaza gun battles rage on unabated |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Intense fighting is continuing in the Gaza Strip, as rival armed members of Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah battle to control key security posts. | Intense fighting is continuing in the Gaza Strip, as rival armed members of Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah battle to control key security posts. |
| Tuesday was the bloodiest of four days of unrest in which dozens have died in gunfights and execution-style killings. | Tuesday was the bloodiest of four days of unrest in which dozens have died in gunfights and execution-style killings. |
| Hamas men appear to be systematically taking over Fatah-controlled buildings in northern Gaza, including the National Security Forces headquarters. | Hamas men appear to be systematically taking over Fatah-controlled buildings in northern Gaza, including the National Security Forces headquarters. |
| Fatah says it will boycott cabinet meetings of the unity government. | Fatah says it will boycott cabinet meetings of the unity government. |
| After an emergency meeting in the West Bank on Tuesday day, Fatah said it would pull out of the government if a truce could not be adhered to. | After an emergency meeting in the West Bank on Tuesday day, Fatah said it would pull out of the government if a truce could not be adhered to. |
| But fighting continued on Wednesday, spreading to central Gaza and Gaza City. | But fighting continued on Wednesday, spreading to central Gaza and Gaza City. |
| Gunmen fought for control of high-rise buildings serving as sniper positions and Hamas said it had bulldozed a Fatah outpost controlling Gaza's main north-south road. | Gunmen fought for control of high-rise buildings serving as sniper positions and Hamas said it had bulldozed a Fatah outpost controlling Gaza's main north-south road. |
| GAZA FLASHPOINTS North of Gaza City: Security compound seized by HamasNorth-South road: Fatah post destroyedGaza City: Clash at Fatah commander's houseNorthern Gaza City: Mortar hits Hamas leader in Shati campGaza City & Khan Younis: Protests broken up Rivals: Fatah and Hamas | GAZA FLASHPOINTS North of Gaza City: Security compound seized by HamasNorth-South road: Fatah post destroyedGaza City: Clash at Fatah commander's houseNorthern Gaza City: Mortar hits Hamas leader in Shati campGaza City & Khan Younis: Protests broken up Rivals: Fatah and Hamas |
| A mortar shell hit the home of a Hamas deputy cabinet minister in the Shati refugee camp, setting it alight. | A mortar shell hit the home of a Hamas deputy cabinet minister in the Shati refugee camp, setting it alight. |
| At least eight pro-Fatah men were reported killed in two separate clashes. | At least eight pro-Fatah men were reported killed in two separate clashes. |
| Frightened civilians stayed in their homes, keeping children indoors for safety, although important school exams were meant to take place this week. | Frightened civilians stayed in their homes, keeping children indoors for safety, although important school exams were meant to take place this week. |
| Several hundred civilian protesters briefly turned out in Gaza City to call for a ceasefire, but they scattered when confronted by masked Hamas gunmen firing their weapons. One report says a protester was killed and 14 others were injured by the gunfire. | Several hundred civilian protesters briefly turned out in Gaza City to call for a ceasefire, but they scattered when confronted by masked Hamas gunmen firing their weapons. One report says a protester was killed and 14 others were injured by the gunfire. |
| Another demonstration was broken up in similar fashion in Khan Younis, with one person injured. A pro-Fatah officer was also shot dead at a police compound. | Another demonstration was broken up in similar fashion in Khan Younis, with one person injured. A pro-Fatah officer was also shot dead at a police compound. |
| Pounded | Pounded |
| About 200 Hamas fighters seized the strategic headquarters of the Fatah-allied security forces in northern Gaza after dark on Tuesday | About 200 Hamas fighters seized the strategic headquarters of the Fatah-allied security forces in northern Gaza after dark on Tuesday |
| They had fired mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns at the compound for several hours. At least 17 people died in the fighting. | They had fired mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns at the compound for several hours. At least 17 people died in the fighting. |
| Jeeps carrying Fatah reinforcements were sent to the compound, but they never made it through to help their 500 comrades. | Jeeps carrying Fatah reinforcements were sent to the compound, but they never made it through to help their 500 comrades. |
| There's a difference between leading on the ground and leading by mobile phone Nasser KhaldiPro-Fatah police colonel Gaza residents talk In pictures: Gaza attacks "We were pounded with mortar, mortar, mortar; they had no mercy," said one Fatah fighter in remarks quoted by the Associated Press. | There's a difference between leading on the ground and leading by mobile phone Nasser KhaldiPro-Fatah police colonel Gaza residents talk In pictures: Gaza attacks "We were pounded with mortar, mortar, mortar; they had no mercy," said one Fatah fighter in remarks quoted by the Associated Press. |
| Correspondents say some pro-Fatah officers were frustrated by not having a coherent central command and not getting clear orders to fight back. | Correspondents say some pro-Fatah officers were frustrated by not having a coherent central command and not getting clear orders to fight back. |
| Many Fatah leaders have left Gaza for the West Bank after previous fighting, while Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan is in Egypt for medical treatment. | Many Fatah leaders have left Gaza for the West Bank after previous fighting, while Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan is in Egypt for medical treatment. |
| "There's a difference between leading on the ground and leading by mobile phone," Police Colonel Nasser Khaldi of Fatah said in comments reported by AP. | "There's a difference between leading on the ground and leading by mobile phone," Police Colonel Nasser Khaldi of Fatah said in comments reported by AP. |
| Violations | Violations |
| Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza Strip in 2005, says it will not intervene in the fighting. | Israel, which withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza Strip in 2005, says it will not intervene in the fighting. |
| Hamas and Fatah agreed their seventh truce in just over a month on Monday, trying to end fighting that has claimed more than 100 lives. | Hamas and Fatah agreed their seventh truce in just over a month on Monday, trying to end fighting that has claimed more than 100 lives. |
| There have been sporadic outbreaks of civil strife since Hamas won parliamentary elections in January 2006, ending years of Fatah domination of Palestinian politics. | There have been sporadic outbreaks of civil strife since Hamas won parliamentary elections in January 2006, ending years of Fatah domination of Palestinian politics. |
| The election triggered a Palestinian political and economic crisis, with international donors boycotting the government because Hamas - which they consider a terrorist group - refuses to recognise Israel and renounce violence. | The election triggered a Palestinian political and economic crisis, with international donors boycotting the government because Hamas - which they consider a terrorist group - refuses to recognise Israel and renounce violence. |
| Israel has refused to hand over hundreds of millions of dollars in tax, which it collects on behalf of the Palestinians. | Israel has refused to hand over hundreds of millions of dollars in tax, which it collects on behalf of the Palestinians. |