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Five killed in Hamas-Fatah clash in Gaza

DUBAI: Exposing deep divisions among Palestinian factions yet again, violence at a memorial rally for the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, in Gaza has left five persons dead. Gunfire erupted at a massive rally called by the Palestinian faction Fatah at a prominent Gaza square.

It was the biggest show of strength by Fatah in Gaza after it was ousted from the territory by rival Hamas in June.

Hamas security officials admitted that they had fired toward the protesters, who they said threw stones at security compounds.

The atmosphere was already charged after crowds started raising slogans calling Hamas a proxy of Shia dominated Iran.

Nearly 100 persons were wounded in the firing. Fatah said Hamas gunmen had used the Islamic university in Gaza to launch the attack. Earlier, Gaza square was filled with yellow flags of Fatah.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said there would be no dialogue with Hamas till the group relinquished its hold over the territory.

Hamas had banned opposition gatherings in Gaza but had no choice but to permit a remembrance rally for Arafat — widely acknowledged as the symbol of Palestinian unity. The emotional event ended in chaos as people ran for cover after shots rang out.

Israel has gone out of its way to isolate Hamas controlled Gaza. However, eyewitnesses said busloads carrying material for the Fatah rally encountered little difficulty in moving across the Israel-Gaza border.

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