GAZA CITY — Masked gunmen attacked the Palestinian news agency Wafa in
the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis yesterday.
Sources said the gunmen, believed to
have been from Hamas, assaulted a reporter, Amr Fara, and destroyed the news
office. Fara was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
"They said they'd come back unless Wafa reported Palestinian issues in
an impartial manner," a source said.
The Palestinian Authority, awaiting the formation of a
national unity government, continues to be rocked by internecine violence, Middle East Newsline reported.
Palestinian sources reported an increase in clan and other violence,
particularly in the Gaza Strip over the last week. They said the violence
was marked by clashes between major clans and battles with PA security
forces.
[On Wednesday, an Israeli youngster was injured in a salvo of
Palestinian missiles from the Gaza Strip. Palestinian gunners fired at least
two Kassam-class, short-range missiles toward a southern Israeli kibbutz.]
Hamas operatives have been blamed for a series of attacks on PA figures
aligned with the rival Fatah movement. On Sept. 15, Hamas gunmen were said
to have assassinated a senior PA intelligence officer and four of his
bodyguards in Gaza City.
On Tuesday, hundreds of relatives of the dead officers marched to the
Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza City. Many of them fired assault
rifles in the air. There were no reports of injuries.
Clan violence has also peaked in the Gaza Strip. On Tuesday, three
people were reported killed and six others were injured in gun battles
between leading families in Gaza City and Khan Yunis.
One of the three battles reported involved the powerful Dughmoush clan,
responsible for much of the arms smuggling from Egypt to the PA. On Tuesday,
Abdullah Suleiman Dughmoush was shot and killed in a dispute with another
clan in Gaza City. Dughmoush's brother, Omran, was shot and seriously
injured in the Hamas-dominated Sejaieh neighborhood.
Palestinian sources said the gun battle stemmed from a land dispute with
the rival Al Nueizi clan. Two members of the Al Nueizi family, Fayez and
Hamid, were killed in the shootout and four others were injured. Both the
Dughmoush and Al Nueizi clans have members in the PA security forces.
In Khan Yunis, two other families fought in what was termed a turf war.
A nine-year-old boy was struck by a bullet in the leg and injured.
Palestinian sources said clan violence has increased in the Gaza Strip
as the PA failed to fulfill its promises to pay salaries and provide jobs.
Many clans were promised jobs by the PA in return for their loyalty.
