Cars left idling as residents flee street battles
Hamas militants fired mortar shells near Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ residence in Gaza City, while street battles sent residents nearby fleeing in terror. Some even left their cars idling as they sought shelter.
Masked gunmen took up positions on rooftops during the attack, while others took cover in alleyways below. Mr Abbas was not in Gaza at the time.
According to security officials, violence also broke out in the central Gaza town of Bureij, when Hamas militants hijacked a convoy delivering supplies to the Fatah-allied security forces.
Security reinforcements were seen flooding into the town.
Security officials said Hamas militants had also fired a rocket at the northern Gaza intelligence post, sacked it and injured five security officers.
One Fatah security officer was kidnapped and another wounded in the attack, according to officials.
Hamas said at least two of its supporters were wounded in yesterday’s clashes.
Israeli troops, meanwhile, killed four Palestinians and wounded a fifth — along Israel’s frontier with Gaza.
Inside the strip, gunmen opened fire at Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum as he drove with three bodyguards toward an impromptu checkpoint near Gaza City, according to Hamas. There were no casualties.
Later, gunmen in a car shot at another Hamas spokesman, Islam Shahwan. Hamas blamed armed elements loyal to Fatah for both attacks.
Yesterday afternoon, Hamas gunmen ambushed an official convoy protected by the presidential guard, hijacking two trucks filled with tents, medical kits and toilets.
The US and some Arab countries had pledged to give equipment and training to security forces loyal to Mr Abbas.
The attack sparked the new fighting, which killed four people in Bureij, including a security officer.
The truce, declared early on Tuesday, was meant to bring an end to internal fighting that has left more than 60 Palestinians dead since early December.
