GAZA CITY — Hamas fired missiles toward Palestinian security forces
and seized control of the northern Gaza Strip in what was termed the most
violent resistance to the rule of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud
Abbas.
The clashes between Hamas operatives and PA security forces this week
have injured at least 30 people, including bodyguards of leading PA
officials and Fatah activists, Middle East Newsline reported. Fatah fighters also joined the battles
against Hamas.
PA officials acknowledged that Hamas, armed with a range of missiles and
rockets, has become more powerful than Palestinian security forces in the
Gaza Strip. They said the Islamic opposition has sought to replace the PA as
Israel withdraws from the area.
"When someone tries to take over a police station by means of a
rocket-propelled grenade launcher, that is an attempted military coup,"
Palestinian Authority Civil Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan told the
Israeli daily Haaretz on Thursday. "I'm surprised the PA hasn't collapsed
yet."
Palestinian sources said the worst of the clashes took place over the
last two days. On July 19, Hamas launched missiles and rockets toward
security forces around the Jabalya refugee camp north of Gaza City.
The Hamas offensive in Jabalya was sparked by the attempted PA arrest of
Hamas fighter Ibrahim Al Bayari. Later, Hamas torched buildings of Fatah
operatives believed to have helped Preventive Security Apparatus troops
locate Al Bayari.
PA security forces were ambushed by Hamas and four officers were
injured. The sources said Hamas fired two missiles toward PA security
vehicles and
a security officer was shot and injured.
The Palestinian Human Rights Commission said in an investigation that at
one point Hamas seized control of the Tel Al Zatar area. The commission said
Hamas operatives armed with missiles established checkpoints laden with
mines along major junctions and roads. A taxi driver who refused to be
searched by Hamas was shot and injured.
"By noon [July 19] militants from Hamas de-mined the area and proceeded
to retreat," the commission said. "The area became relatively calm."
Three institutions that belonged to Hamas were torched in Gaza City, the
sources said. They included the Rantisi Press and the Arab Research Center.
On Wednesday, clashes resumed between Hamas and the PA. Three PA
security officers and two Hamas operatives were injured around Gaza City
before dawn. The gun battles shattered a ceasefire announced an hour earlier
by Fatah and Hamas.
The internecine violence took place as Israel prepared to withdraw from
the Gaza Strip, an operation opposed by tens of thousands of nationalists.
On Thursday, Israeli military sources reported that over the last few days
more than 500 anti-withdrawal activists infiltrated the Gaza Strip, declared
a closed zone last week.
