Hamas-Jihad clashes in Rafah leave one resident dead

Wednesday November 07, 2007 14:01 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC

One Palestinian resident has been reported killed and two others wounded after mourners, belonging to the Islamic Jihad group, traded gun-fire with Palestinian policemen in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

Islamic Jihad supporters, taking part Wednesday in the funeral procession of their fellow who died of wounds in earlier Hamas-Jihad clashes/ photo by IMEMC's Iyad Albaba

Medics confirmed the killing of a Palestinian resident and the injury of two others in Rafah city this morning.

Witnesses told IMEMC that during the funeral procession of an Islamic Jihad member, who died of wounds he sustained in clashes with Hamas earlier, gunmen of the Islamic Jihad opened fire towards a Hamas-run police station, then an exchange of gun shots broke out.

Witnesses added that senior local leaders of the two groups contained the incident and collected guns from the mourners, keeping the procession away from the Hamas-controlled security outposts.

About three weeks ago, similar clashes took place between supporters of both groups in Rafah city, causing the death of one innocent woman and the injury of several others.

Hamas then accused the Islamic Jihad of involving among its ranks some Fatah personnel, an accusation rebuffed by the group.

Internal violence in the Gaza Strip has been frequent over the past ten months between Fatah and Hamas rival parties; after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah called for early presidential and legislative elections last December, to put an end to an internationally-imposed economic embargo.

The embargo was imposed due to Hamas' refusal to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past signed agreement, since the Islamist group won last January’s parliamentary elections.

Hamas was outlawed by President Abbas after the group’s takeover of the coastal region in mid June. Hamas is now in complete control of the coastal strip, including the police forces.

rafah | internal unrest | news report rami at imemc dot org