Date:13/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/13/stories/2007061303441400.htm

International

Hamas' all-out assault on Fatah

Atul Aneja

Bid to uproot rival faction from Gaza

DUBAI: Amid heavy fighting, the Palestinian militant group Hamas appears to have launched an all-out assault to overrun positions held by the rival Fatah faction.

Hamas fighters were reportedly taking over positions held by Fatah in central and northern Gaza. Hamas controlled mosques in Gaza were issuing an ultimatum to Fatah-linked groups to vacate their positions within two hours.

The two groups were also fighting for the control of some of the main hospitals in Gaza. While the Hamas has Gaza as its power base, the Fatah dominates the West Bank area. Alarmed by the development, Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has accused Hamas of attempting a "coup". In a statement, Mr. Abbas said a section of the Hamas was "planning a coup against the legitimate [Palestinian] institutions".

Fighting between rival Palestinian factions has intensified after the Gaza residence of Palestinian Prime Minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was attacked thrice since Monday.

Nearly 16 persons have already been killed in factional fighting, which is turning increasingly brutal. Hamas fighters shot a top northern Gaza commandeer of Fatah, his brother and cousin in an apparent retaliation to the attack on Mr. Haniyeh's home.

They also killed a senior member of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, linked to Fatah, in a hospital in the town of Beit Hanoun.

Fatah fighters fired rocket propelled grenades at the Al Shifa hospital, which is under the control of Hamas.

Egyptian intermediaries have been unable to stop the fighting which is spiralling out of control.

On Tuesday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah II of Jordan met in Cairo to take stock of the situation.