Palestinian commander shot seven times in Gaza Strip

Hamas gunmen today ambushed the car of a security commander loyal to president Mahmoud Abbas, shooting him seven times in the legs, Palestinian security officials said.

Rifat Kulab, commander of the Preventive Security agency in the southern town of Khan Younis, was in a moderate condition and his life was not in danger.

Tensions between Abbas’ Fatah and the ruling Hamas group have been rising since Hamas won legislative elections in January and ended Fatah’s 40-year hold on the Palestinian leadership.

Abbas was elected separately last year.

Fatah and Hamas are in a tough battle over control of the security forces, leading to factional fighting in Gaza’s streets that has raised the spectre of civil war.

A Hamas attack on a Preventive Security office in Gaza on Monday led to a day-long gun battle in the southern town of Rafah, and sparked a rampage by security men against government buildings in the West Bank later in the day.