 |
| Fatah supporters have clashed repeatedly with Hamas members in recent days |
|
Clashes in Gaza City between Hamas men and a powerful local clan have cast doubt on a recent truce between rival Palestinian groups.
The fighting occured in the early hours of Friday near the home of Mahmud al-Zahar, the Palestinian foreign minister, killing a civilian.
The civilian, Ayman al-Girgawi, was mortally wounded in the battle that lasted for more than an hour, with long bursts of automatic fire breaking the calm of the night.
Early reports said that men loyal to a local clan had attacked al-Zahar's house.
More clashes
In the northern West Bank town of Nablus, six Palestinians were wounded, two of them seriously, in clashes between Hamas and the rival Fatah faction of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, medics and witnesses said.
Al Jazeera's correspondent said that a group of Hamas fighters had come under fire while preparing for a ceremony to mark the movement's foundation.
Gaza has recently been the scene of increasingly heavy fighting between Fatah and Hamas.
Tensions have been high in Gaza after Abbas called for early elections on Saturday.
Hamas, which trounced the once dominant Fatah in January polls, said it would boycott a new poll.
|
|
Source: |
Aljazeera+Agencies
|
|