3 Palestinians killed in clash between Fatah and Hamas in Gaza
Palestine, Politics, 5/8/2006

Three Palestinians, two from Fatah and one from Hamas, were killed today in an exchange of fire near Khan Younis in southern Gaza, security and medical sources said.

It is not clear how the clash started, but local sources said Fatah gunmen opened fire on a Hamas outpost at Bani Suheila near Khan Younis, killing a Hamas fighter.

The Hamas fighters reportedly fired back on their attackers, killing two of them. Some unconfirmed reports said Hamas fired a grenade on the Fatah men.

The incident is the worst between the two rival parties since January 25 when Hamas defeated Fatah in legislative elections.

The incident also is seen as an early warning of a possible implosion within the occupied Palestinian territories due to deepening poverty and looming starvation resulting from a crippling blockade by Israel, the US and EU on the new Palestinian government.

The government, led by Hamas, in coordination with the Fatah- dominated Palestinian Authority, is trying to prevent the incident from deteriorating into a larger confrontation between the two groups.

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