In the clash, a 55-year-old Palestinian, identified as Abdul Raouf
Thabet, 55, was killed. Thabet and his family, residents of the village of
Nasser in the Rafah district, were said to have been working for the PFLP's
military wing, National Restrance Battalions.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported that Hamas and PFLP
forces first clashed over a border position. Later, the dispute moved into
Nasser village east of the city of Rafah, where both sides opened fire. At
that point, Thabet was shot in the abdomen, pelvis, and thighs and later
died in a nearby hospital.
"After the clashes, a large number of Kassam [Hamas] gunmen arrived in
the area and enforced their control, searching several houses for the
National Resistance Battalions members," the human rights group said.
"Kassam abducted Nidal Atef Thabet, 19, and severely beat Zeyad Salem
Thabet, 45, injuring him in the head."
PCHR said members of Hamas's Izzedin Kassam military wing have been
raiding homes of dissidents and political opponents. The Hamas regime has
established a separate police and security force.
The Palestinian sources said Hamas has modified some of the tunnels to
enable fuel to be pumped from Sinai to the Gaza Strip. Despite occasional
Israeli-approved shipments, the strip has been hampered by a fuel shortage.
The fuel shortage has halted public transportation and the Hamas regime
has used police cars to give people free rides. Palestinian sources said the
police cars could transport no more than several hundred people per day. The
strip has a population of 1.8 million.