Nine hurt, 5 of them children, in renewed Hamas-Fatah clashes

[Behind the Aegis]

Nine Palestinians, five of them schoolchidren, were wounded early Tuesday in renewed clashes between militants from the Hamas and Fatah movements in downtown Gaza City, witnesses and paramedics said.

The clashes erupted after Hamas gunmen arrived at the home of a top Fatah
official and opened fire at Fatah activists inside, witnesses said. The Fatah gunmen returned fire and nine were injured in the exchange, including five schoolchildren, hospital officials said.

At least one of the wounded was a Hamas gunman, officials said. No further details were available regarding the identity of the wounded.

According to Hamas officials, bodyguards working for Samir Mashrawi, a top Fatah leader in Gaza, kidnapped three members of the Hamas military wing earlier in the morning and the Hamas gunmen had arrived on the scene to free them. Fatah officials denied the accusations.


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