Palestinian Civil War Watch - 14

There was a ceasefire called last night, but nobody came.

Less than a day after another ceasefire agreement was attained between Fatah and Hamas, on Saturday morning violence between the factions erupted anew, and eight Palestinian were wounded.

Severe gun battles erupted on the streets of Gaza City, nearby President Mahmoud Abbas’ office and the Palestinian security headquarters in city center. Witnesses reported that gunmen from both camps were positioned in the area and there was heavy gunfire.

In an attempt to establish control, Palestinian security forces set up roadblocks in Gaza City and at various strategic points throughout the Strip.

Saturday morning eight people were wounded, one of them severely, in the clashes between the factions.

During the morning hours members of the Fatah-linked Palestinian presidential guard raided and vandalized the Agriculture Ministry in Gaza City, which is under Hamas authority, in search of documents, weapons and suspects.

I call this phase the war of the buildings.

So far Fatah has torched a Hamas University and Hamas has recprocated. However, Hamas is up one radio station. We shall see how long that lasts.

Update: 04 Feb '07 1313z

One person was killed in Saturday's fighting.

Hamas and Fatah gunmen fought in Gaza City's beachfront neighborhoods and around security compounds early Sunday, ignoring renewed truce appeals and Arab mediation efforts. One man was killed, raising the death toll from three days of fighting to 26, the AP reported.

Latest reports are that the cease fire is not holding. Heh.

GAZA (Reuters) - Mortar bombs exploded near the Gaza offices of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday and rival gunmen exchanged fire in the streets, ignoring another shaky truce in the factional war between Fatah and Hamas.

The fighting has brought life to a near-standstill for residents of the narrow coastal strip, home to 1.5 million Palestinians.

Some Gaza residents ventured onto the streets for the first time in days to find masked gunmen manning checkpoints and most stores closed despite the latest ceasefire deal.
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"We pray to God that the fighting, which only served Israel, will stop once and for all," Abu Mohammad said, standing outside his Gaza City home.

A hospital official said two members of Abbas's presidential guard, a force that receives U.S.-funded training and non-lethal equipment, died on Sunday from gunshot wounds suffered in fighting over the weekend.

The latest deaths raised to 27 the number of Palestinians killed in factional clashes in the last four days. Few expected the truce, announced on Saturday, to last.

You can count me among the many who predicted there would be no truce.

Hamas has a high level hostage.

Tensions between Fatah and Hamas were again running high in the Gaza Strip following the kidnapping of Fatah leader Muhammad Dahlan's nephew by Hamas gunmen on Sunday afternoon.

According to reports, Ashraf Dahlan was stopped at a Hamas checkpoint when the incident occurred. Currently there is no information of his whereabouts, nor have any demands been issued for his release.

Earlier Sunday, Hamas and Fatah gunmen fought in Gaza City's beachfront neighborhoods and around security compounds, ignoring renewed truce appeals and Arab mediation efforts. One man was killed, raising the death toll from three days of fighting to 26.

That is down somewhat from the rate during their previous clash where about 10 a day were killed. It could be random fluctuation or changes in strategies and tactics.

Cross Posted at Classical Values