Hamas forces, responding to the killing of one of their policemen during an arrest raid on Monday, raided a clan stronghold in Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday in search of a suspect in that slaying, officials said.
Ten clan members, including an infant, and a Hamas operative were killed in ensuing clashes that went on for hours and continued into Tuesday morning. Dozens of people were injured on both sides.
This is interesting:
The exchanges of fire included the use of mortar shells, and according to one report one of the mortars landed near the home of senior Hamas member Mahmoud al-Zahar. This report has yet to be confirmed by Hamas officials or by the movement’s security officers.
Mortars in a residential neighborhood?
Anyway it’s hard to have a lot of sympathy for the clan involved:
Some clan members, allied with al-Qaeda, were involved in the March 2007 abduction of BBC reporter Alan Johnston, who was held hostage for four months before being released.
Others in the clan are divided between supporters of Islamist Hamas and those who back Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement, whose fighters were defeated when Hamas seized control of Gaza last year.
It’s between thug and thugger. And it’s about having a monopoly on force. Hamas has gotten used to targeting Israeli civilians with impunity, so now it turns its guns on its own. No doubt Bishop Tutu will return to Gaza to investigate.
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
