Hamas has taken control of key Palestinian Preventive Security headquarters, according to reports from witnesses.

Hamas militants fired rockets into Israel today as they battled their rivals from Fatah in the streets of the Gaza Strip.

Fatah and Hamas gunmen battled each other at universities, a radio station and in streets across the Gaza Strip today with 17 people – including four children - dying before the factions’ leaders announced a cease-fire agreement.

Palestinian militants attacked the Gaza Strip’s main cargo crossing with mortar fire early today, slightly wounding an Israeli truck driver in the latest flare-up of violence in the coastal strip.

A series of heavy gunbattles between Hamas and Fatah militants broke out in Gaza City today, despite a two-day-old truce that had largely ended factional violence.

Hamas militants today burst into the Rafah border terminal, sparking a gunbattle with guards before taking control of the crossing.

In a statement faxed to reporters today, Hamas openly accused a Fatah “death squad” for the killing of Hamas judge Bassam al-Fara.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians flooded polling stations today to cast ballots in their first parliamentary election in a decade, a watershed vote that will bring Islamic militants into the political fold and set Palestinians on a course of negotiation or confrontation with Israel.

The Hamas militant group won local elections in the West Bank’s largest cities, according to preliminary results released today, dealing a harsh blow to the ruling Fatah party just six weeks ahead of a parliamentary poll.

Gunfire erupted at the headquarters of Palestine’s ruling Fatah party today after masked gunmen took over the building to protest against a decision by the Palestinian leader to appoint people to his election list rather than honour the results of a primary election.

PALESTINIANS voted for local governments in dozens of towns and villages across the West Bank and Gaza Strip yesterday — a contest that is expected to boost the Islamic militant group Hamas and could foreshadow results of parliamentary elections in July.

Yasser Arafat fought for the Palestinian cause all his life – and his indomitable style of leadership over 35 years ensured he never lost control.

Israel today signalled both reluctant acquiescence and disapproval of the Palestinians’ candidate for prime minister.

Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Qureia emerged as Yasser Arafat’s choice to take over as prime minister following the resignation of Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian officials said.

An explosion, apparently triggered prematurely by militants making a bomb, tore through a house in Gaza today, killing three people.

An explosion has destroyed the one-story Hebron office of Fatah, the party of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.