Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

New Deadly Clashes between Hamas and Gaza Clan | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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GAZA CITY (AFP) – At least one person was killed when new clashes broke out on Saturday between the Hamas-run police in the Gaza Strip and a clan tied to the rival Fatah movement, eyewitnesses and medics said.

“Mohammed Hellis was killed today and 12 others were wounded in renewed clashes between the Executive Force and the Hellis family,” a medical official said on condition of anonymity.

“Ambulances are not able to remove the wounded because of the heavy gunfire and because the area is tightly sealed off,” the official added.

On Wednesday night street battles erupted between the Hellis clan and the Executive Force, a Hamas-run paramilitary unit that has policed Gaza since the Islamist movement seized control in June.

Four people were killed in that round of fighting and another 30 were wounded, making it the deadliest bout of Palestinian factional infighting since Hamas seized power four months ago.

Most members of the powerful Hellis clan are loyal to the secular Fatah party of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, whose loyalists and security forces were routed during a week of street battles that claimed 161 lives.