Gaza Truce Collapses

Posted on Feb 2, 2007

nytimes.com

Violence has erupted in Gaza after a three-day cease-fire between rivals Hamas and Fatah came to an explosive end. At least 10 people have been killed and 120 wounded since the latest round of fighting began on Thursday.

AP via Yahoo!:

The resurgent violence, which has killed 10 people since Thursday, destroyed a brief truce between Fatah and Hamas and forced thousands of Gazans to huddle in their homes to escape the crossfire.

In a symbol that the two sides had returned to open warfare, their respective radio stations stopped playing songs of national unity and broadcast songs about armed struggle and fighting the enemy.

More than 100 Palestinians have been killed in internal violence since Hamas won parliamentary elections last year and formed a Cabinet. In the wake of the election, President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah took control of the security forces and Hamas established its own militia. The two forces have fought repeatedly in the streets, despite a series of brief truces.

Egyptian mediators blamed Hamas for violating the latest cease-fire deal by ambushing an official convoy.

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