Palestinian Civil War Watch
Charles Johnson
Fri May 19, 2006 at 6:29 pm PDT • Views: 242
Tensions rise after Hamas aide caught with cash.
GAZA (Reuters) - Rival Palestinian forces faced off at Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt on Friday after border guards loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas caught a Hamas official trying to smuggle in 639,000 euros ($804,000), authorities said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh vowed during Friday prayers not to disband a new Hamas-led security force and said he was prepared to increase its numbers in defiance of Abbas and President George W. Bush’s U.S. administration.
About 100 Hamas gunmen raced to the Rafah crossing where Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri was caught with the money. Abbas’s elite guard also called in reinforcements. Rafah is guarded by Abbas’s presidential guard and tensions remained high between the rival factions throughout the day.
Elsewhere an intense armed clash between Fatah and Hamas gunmen erupted in Gaza City on Friday night with three Hamas gunmen suffering moderate gunshot wounds, medics said.
Frank says: