GAZA CITY — The Palestinian militia war continues amid an Israeli
ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian sources said Fatah and Hamas have clashed repeatedly over
the last few days in several areas of the Gaza Strip. They said the
internecine violence has included major clans.
Over the weekend, at least four Palestinians were killed and another six
injured in communal violence in the Palestinian Authority. Clashes were
reported in Beit Lahiya and Rafah near concentrations of Israeli troops who
entered the Gaza Strip over the last week.
On July 1, the brother of a Preventive Security Apparatus officer was
killed as part of a family feud in Bet Lahiya. Palestinian sources said that
earlier the PSA officer had shot the assailant.
PSA has been in the forefront of the Fatah effort to undermine the
Hamas-led government in the Gaza Strip. The PA agency contains about 3,500
trained and equipped agents in the Gaza Strip.
In Rafah, four people were injured in clan violence. The Foujo and El
Arja clans engaged in a shoout in a housing project in the southern Gaza
town.
In Salfit, a 27-year-old Fatah militiaman was shot and killed in a
barbershop as part of personal dispute. Within minutes, Fatah gunmen arrived
and killed the suspected assailant.
Later, the attacks resumed at Salfit Hospital. Palestinian sources said
Fatah's Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades opened fire and killed the uncle of the
slain assailant.
