Hamas-Fatah gunbattles cover Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Gunbattles broke out across the Gaza Strip when heavily armed Hamas militiamen tried to break up anti-government demonstrations yesterday, killing seven persons and injuring dozens in the worst internal Palestinian violence since Hamas took power.

Militants from the opposition Fatah group retaliated by torching the Palestinian Cabinet building in the West Bank. The violence comes amid growing frustration over the parties’ failure to form a national-unity government that could end crippling economic sanctions.

The fighting continued throughout the day and sent schoolchildren and other civilians in downtown Gaza City fleeing for cover.

“This is forbidden in Islam. We are in the holy month of Ramadan,” said Majed Badawi, 33, who managed to escape after his car was caught in the crossfire. “It’s a shame on Hamas, who call themselves real Muslims, and a shame on Fatah, as well. Why are they fighting and over what? We are victims because of both of them.”

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of Hamas, spoke with President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, by telephone and called for joint action to end the fighting, Mr. Haniyeh’s office said. But in a televised speech, Mr. Haniyeh also defended the Hamas militiamen, saying they acted lawfully in trying to break up the protests.

Fatah officials blamed Hamas for the chaos. “Nothing can justify this violence,” Fatah spokesman Tawfik Abu Khoussa said.

Hamas has been under pressure since its January election victory over the long-ruling Fatah.

Israel and the West, which view Hamas as a terror group, cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and tax transfers to the Palestinian Authority, making it nearly impossible for the new government to pay its 165,000 workers.

In recent weeks, civil servants — including members of the security forces, many of them Fatah loyalists — have held expanding protests against the Hamas-led government to demand back wages.

On Saturday, the Hamas government sent its 3,500-member militia into Gaza’s streets to quash the protests.

The fighting started in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, where dozens of police gathered to demand back wages, protesters said. The Hamas militiamen ordered them to disperse, then opened fire at the protesters, who responded by shooting in the air, protesters said.

Fighting then broke out between militia members and security officials in northern Gaza, and violence spread to the parliament building in Gaza City, where security officers and civil servants were protesting. The protesters threw stones at Hamas militiamen, who eventually fired on the protesters, according to a reporter at the scene.

Militiamen and security personnel — including bodyguards for Mr. Abbas — began trading fire nearby. People scattered, and children covered their heads with their schoolbags for protection.

The clashes later spilled over to an area near the president’s residence.

The street battles killed four persons, including a presidential bodyguard and a 15-year-old boy, said Dr. Baker Abu Safia, director of Gaza’s Shifa Hospital. Two others were killed in related violence, and at least 75 were injured, hospital officials said.

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