Later, Hamas police continued the assault on the Shawaf clan. At least
16 clan members were arrested.
Shawaf, based in the Abasan village near Khan Yunis, has been identified
as a clan linked to the opposition Fatah movement. Many clan members were
also said to be members of the Al Qaida-aligned militias in the Gaza Strip,
believed supported by Fatah and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
The clan has considerable land holdings in the southern Gaza Strip. The
attack took place on a 2.5 acre tract that belonged to Shawaf and which
hosted the wedding of Bakr Abdul Khader Al Shawaf, 25.
None of the masked gunmen were arrested. Shawaf members began arguing
with arriving police, who ordered the wedding to disperse.
"The police attempted to disperse the family members using clubs and gun
butts and the family members threw stones at them in return," the human
rights center said. "The police arrested 16 persons, including the
bridegroom's father and two of his brothers."
Hamas police said four alleged gunmen were arrested for the initial
attack. Officials said the four were juveniles and "adhere to radical
ideas."
Palestinian sources said Hamas has employed undercover agents to attack
opposition clans and activists throughout the Gaza Strip. Often
the attacks were meant to warn opposition elements to end their activities, the sources said.