There’s been a lot of activity between terrorist factions–I mean, Hamas and the PA–this weekend.
Gazan civil war?- A Palestinian policeman was killed on Sunday in a Gaza gun battle with Hamas militants, Palestinian police sources said. Around 30 people, 10 of whom are Palestinian Authority security personnel were injured in the worst outbreak of internal Palestinian fighting since Israeli troops withdrew from the Gaza Strip last month. Palestinian sources in Gaza said Hamas terrorists are firing mortar shells at Palestinian Authority police stations in Gaza City neighborhoods.
A number of police stations have been completely demolished, while others were set ablaze as a result of the mortar fire.
The Palestinian Interior Ministry has released a statement placing blame on Hamas for the escalation.
“Hamas has breached the Palestinian factions’ agreements and the Palestinian Authority’s orders to lay down its arms,†the ministry said in a statement. “The clashes erupted after PA police offices attempted to confiscate weapons of gunmen who were in a car. The gunmen proceeded to fire at the officers; this caused the outbreak of the recent events.â€
Well, we can hope, but we’ve seen this before, and it’s always fizzled out after a few hours. I can’t see it doing more than that. Especially in light of this:
Armed Hamas activists held parades in Gaza’s northern neighborhoods, and fired in the air to express their identification with fellow militants engaged in violent fighting with PA officers.
Police officers have yet to interrupt the parades, despite the PA’s decision to ban the public bearing of arms.
Then again, this seems a bit more serious:
Hours later, riots and armed exchanges broke out in the Sheikh Raduan neighborhood in Gaza, when Palestinian Authority security forces began confiscating weapons held by non-PA groups. At least four people were injured in the clashes. Battles then erupted across Gaza, including the Nasser neighborhood and the Balati Shati refugee camp. As the PA forces clashed with Hamas members, Hamas used Gaza’s mosque speaker system to mobilize its forces.
In one of the first incidents, PA forces fought with Hamas members, including the son of former Hamas terror chief Abdel Aziz Rantisi. Witnesses said a mass riot broke out when Palestinian police began collecting the weapons, and the PA placed a checkpoint in the area.
A car containing Rantisi and other Hamas members was pulled over at the checkpoint for a search. Rantisi refused, and continued driving. Palestinian police fired on the vehicle’s tires, and the car’s occupants got out and confronted the PA officers, and throwing rocks at them. At the same time, armed al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades members began fighting with Palestinian police.
Funny, though–I can’t find any word of this anywhere but in the Israeli press. Reuters has nothing. And nobody else seems to be willing to publicize the fact that palestinians are killing each other.
Of course, if it were the IDF they were battling–well, you know the rest.
“Worst outbreak”? They should say rather “most promising”. Two rats, snarling over the carrion of a cow that has starved to death, that’s what Hamas and the PA are. If they destroyed each other the Palis might have a chance to replace their present tyrants with something halfway decent, but I doubt they will be that lucky. I also doubt there are many Palis who understand that. They will applaud any vicious thug ruling them, so long as he urges them to kill the Jews.
The BBC has it. Though I am sure you will find fault in the reporting ;-P
These maniacs will eat their own children.