Posted on 01/29/2005 1:47:01 PM PST by Libloather
Hamas Victory Rally Erupts Into Shootout
57 minutes ago
Palestinians chant Islamic slogans, as they participate in a Hamas movement rally in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, Saturday Jan. 29, 2005. The Islamic group won an overwhelming victory in local elections in 10 Gaza towns, in a setback for the Fatah Party of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. The Hamas victory reflected widespread support in Gaza for the movement, which provides welfare, schools and kindergartens to the impoverished residents of the territory. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
JERUSALEM - A political rally by the militant Palestinian group Hamas turned violent Saturday, as supporters of the rival Fatah faction opened fire, sparking a melee that left more than 25 people wounded, a Palestinian official said.
The incident in the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza was the first instance of violence between rival Palestinian factions since the election of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in early January.
Abbas has been holding talks with rival political factions, including Hamas, in hopes of reaching a truce agreement between militants and Israel.
The shooting occurred at an outdoor rally staged by Hamas to celebrate its victory in municipal elections in Gaza earlier in the week. Hamas' strong showing dealt a setback to Abbas' dominant Fatah faction.
The Palestinian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Hamas supporters chanted victory slogans, angering Fatah supporters in the area.
One of the Fatah supporters opened fire, seriously wounding one Hamas supporters and causing shrapnel wounds to four others, the official said. Some 25 other people were hurt by knives, clubs and beatings in the ensuing melee, the official said.
No further details were immediately available.
While rival Palestinian factions have sporadically fought one another, such instances of fighting are rare, with the various groups all saying they are committed to ending Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian member of the military wing of Fatah marches during their rally in Khan Younis refugee camp, south of Gaza Strip, January 28, 2005. Hamas swept seven out of 10 councils in first-ever Gaza Strip local elections seen as a test of strength between the Islamic militant group and new President Mahmoud Abbas, final results showed. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
This is so sad.
Didn't any of them have handgrenates?
Are handgrenates like dynamice?
Was there any raffle fire?
Is dynamice like frozen TNT?
Hey! Be careful with that stuff.
ML/NJ
Israel shouldn't pull out of Gaza or West Bank. The palis are murdering terrorists and Abbas can't contain them.
That would have been the right moment for a MOAB. Could have cut Terrorism by 2/3 in one shot.
Oh well, next time.
And western Europeans complain about our "cowboy" ways? They should uncover their Euro eyes for a day, and look at the terrorist dodge city environment that they are so allied with.
Sometimes it makes me want us to just pull back from the world, build Fortress America and let them kill each other off!
What a bunch of dunces.
Godspeed
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