Jordanian driver killed as Hamas militia battles Fatah-dominated security force

A NEW Hamas militia battled gunmen from a Fatah-dominated security force near the Palestinian parliament in Gaza yesterday in fresh clashes that killed a Jordanian driver and wounded six bystanders.

The rival forces traded fire from rooftops, behind buildings and on a key street in Gaza City in the latest internal fighting that will compound fears of civil war breaking out in the impoverished territory of 1.4 million people.

Tensions have surged in the past week between Hamas, an Islamic militant movement that took power in March, and the long-dominant Fatah of President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas trounced Fatah in elections last January.

Palestinian security sources said the Jordanian was driving a car with diplomatic licence plates when he was caught in crossfire. Six civilian bystanders and a policeman were also wounded.

Hamas and Fatah accused each other of starting the battle. After more than two hours of fighting, sporadic shots still echoed through the largely deserted streets of the seaside city. Some witnesses said the Hamas-led militia returned fire after coming under attack.

Hamas officials said the assailants were from the Preventive Security agency, staffed by men loyal to Fatah. Ordinary police also joined the battle.

Palestinian security sources said the dead Jordanian, Khaled al-Radayda, was an administrative employee at his country’s mission in Gaza.

Al-Radayda was on his way to pick up Jordan’s representative to the Palestinian Authority when the clash erupted.

Hamas deployed its new 3,000-strong force in Gaza last week, prompting Abbas, a moderate, to order police onto the streets too. The rival forces clashed within barely a day. Sustained conflict could cause serious bloodshed in densely packed Gaza City, cripple the Palestinian Authority and strengthen Israel’s position to dictate borders that would seal its permanent control on swathes of occupied West Bank land.

Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, a spokesman for Fatah, said security would worsen if Hamas kept its new force on Gaza’s streets in defiance of orders from Abbas to disband it. Abu Khoussa accused Hamas gunmen of firing rocket-propelled grenades at police headquarters in Gaza during yesterday’s clash.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said the Hamas force members were defending themselves after coming under attack.

Apparent assassination attempts against two top Abbas commanders at the weekend have also stoked worries of further strife in Gaza. Hamas has denied any responsibility for the attacks.