JERUSALEM — At least seven people were killed and scores wounded Monday in Gaza City when Hamas security forces clashed with supporters of the rival Fatah faction attending a huge rally marking the anniversary of Yasser Arafat’s death, hospital officials said.
It was the deadliest factional violence in the Gaza Strip since Hamas overran the coastal territory five months ago, routing Fatah forces.
Tens of thousands of people turned out for the memorial rally in a square in Gaza City, the largest public gathering by Fatah since the Hamas takeover. Organizers estimated the crowd at more than 250,000.
Nationalist songs blared from loudspeakers, and a sea of yellow Fatah flags filled the square, which was dominated by a giant mural of Arafat, the founder of the movement and leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization who died Nov. 11, 2004.
The show of force by Fatah raised tensions, and gunfire broke out at the fringes of the rally as it was about to disperse, witnesses said.
Rami Abdel Bari, 21, a Fatah supporter, said trouble began when youths leaving the rally taunted Hamas police officers, calling them “Shiites,” a reference to the backing Hamas receives from Iran, a Shiite Muslim nation. Palestinian Muslims are members of the predominant Sunni denomination.
“Hamas police officers began to shoot in the air to disperse them, then Fatah supporters started to throw stones, and the Hamas police opened fire directly at the people,” Abdel Bari said. “There were also gunmen from Fatah who joined in the exchange of fire.”
The shooting set off a stampede for cover as roars of “Shiites!” filled the air, punctuated by the crackle of gunshots.
“Suddenly, I saw people running and hiding behind one another,” said Sami al-Mashharawi, 39, who attended the rally. “I saw many people on the ground bleeding.”
Another witness, Abu Samer, said that after many ran into a mosque, Hamas police officers broke in and beat anyone holding a Fatah scarf or flag.
