Gaza City, Gaza Strip – Hamas gunmen attacked bases of Fatah-allied troops with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades early Sunday, part of a four-day campaign by the Islamic militants to weaken the security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
As night fell, efforts were underway to restore a truce. Gunmen pulled back from their positions, to be replaced by police officers. The sides began to exchange hostages, and joint Hamas-Fatah forces patrolled streets to monitor the cease-fire.
Previous truces have quickly broken down.
In the West Bank, a strategy session by Fatah leaders ended in a shouting match, with some participants demanding that Abbas’ party take a tougher stand against Hamas in the struggle for control of the Palestinian government, and others pushing to give a mediation effort by Saudi Arabia a chance. In one exchange, participants threw an empty cup and a shoe at each other, witnesses said.
The infighting among Palestinians has overshadowed new efforts to restart the peace process with Israel.
Hamas refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and its hard-line approach has drawn international sanctions that have crippled the Palestinian economy. Abbas has sought negotiations in the past but has lately been distracted by the power struggle within his own government.
Israeli Deputy Premier Shimon Peres on Sunday said Israel must not intervene in the internal Palestinian fighting.
Abbas; Hamas’ exiled leader, Khaled Mashaal; and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas are to meet in Islam’s holy city of Mecca on Tuesday for reconciliation talks hosted by Saudi King Abdullah.
