Hamas pulls private militia off Gaza streets

Hamas withdrew a controversial private militia from the streets of the Gaza Strip today, saying it wanted to avoid further infighting with the rival Fatah movement.

The militia, numbering about 3,000 armed fighters, took to the streets last week over the objections of president Mahmoud Abbas.

The militia has been at the centre of a dispute between Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah party.

Hamas said it was not disbanding the unit, but that it was withdrawing the force from public areas.

The gunmen were not in sight today, and the streets of Gaza City were quiet.