Hamas and Fatah gunmen clash in Gaza
Source: Reuters
By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Rival Palestinian factions fought gun battles in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and at least five Hamas militants were wounded, Hamas officials said. Factional fighting has worsened since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah called last month for early elections in his power struggle with the governing Hamas faction. Tensions rose further at the weekend after Abbas declared illegal Hamas's nearly 6,000-strong "Executive Force". The Islamist militant group, which took control of the Palestinian government in March after beating Fatah in parliamentary elections, has vowed to defy Abbas's declaration by doubling the size of the "Executive Force". The latest factional violence was triggered by the abductions overnight of five Hamas gunmen -- four from Hamas's armed wing and one from the "Executive Force". Fatah militants said the gunmen were seized for questioning because they were suspected of planning attacks. The five were released hours later but their vehicles came under fire as they left the scene. At least two of the Hamas men were wounded. Hamas said three members of Hamas's "Executive Force" were also hurt on Tuesday when Fatah gunmen fired a rocket-propelled grenade at their vehicle. Fatah denied any role in the shootings and accused Hamas of stockpiling weapons to fight Fatah and other Palestinian opponents. "Hamas does not believe in national unity except as a slogan. Hamas's policy is based on excluding others and wiping out others," Abdel-Hakim Awad, a Fatah spokesman in Gaza, told a news conference. He called for the disbanding of the "Executive Force", which Hamas has vowed to expand to 12,000 members. Abbas's presidential guard has about 3,700 men. With aid from the United States and its allies, Abbas hopes to expand it to 4,700 members in 12 to 18 months. Palestinian sources said it could grow to 10,000 members. The United States plans to provide $86 million to help expand the presidential guard, which receives arms from Egypt and Jordan. Iran provides financial support to Hamas, whose charter calls for Israel's destruction.
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