Battles continue in the Gaza Strip between the militant group Hamas and the Palestinian Authority's ruling Fatah party. At least 12 Palestinians were injured in the cross fire including at least three civilians who were caught in the cross fire between Hamas guerillas and Palestinian Authority security forces.
The center of the fighting was located at the Jabaliya refugee camp located just east of Gaza City. Meanwhile, outside the Palestinian parliament building in the West Bank, hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated for an end to in-fighting and end to the increasing chaos in Gaza.
There are conflicting versions of how the fighting between the Hamas militants and PA security officials started. According to Hamas sources, the violence began when PA security officials tried to arrest some for their members in connection with the shooting of a PA officer in last week's infighting.
PA officials contend that Hamas fired shots first at PA security officers and the PA officers then began to target Hamas guerillas.
PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia told the AFP, 'There can no be excuse or justification for what has happened today. Palestinian blood is sacred and should not be spilled at the hands of fellow Palestinians. 'I ask all the factions to respect and commit themselves to the rule of law.'
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a militant wing of the ruling Fatah party, accused Hamas members of using rocket-propelled grenades in their clashes with PA security forces.
'We in Al-Aqsa will not start shooting, but if someone starts shooting, we are ready to face any escalation,' a man who used the alias Abu Mohammed told a news conference in Gaza City on Tuesday.
Many experts speculate that Hamas is engaging in a power struggle with Fatah over the Gaza Strip. Gaza is where Hamas has the most support. PA President Mahmoud Abbas recently indefinitely postponed elections out of fear that Hamas will gain too much support.
Israel is scheduled to begin its unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the West Bank in mid-August. There are serious concerns that chaos will result after the Israeli pullout. The PA and Hamas have less than a month to settle this issue before the pullout begins.
