Palestinian Civil War Watch
Charles Johnson
Sun Oct 1, 2006 at 2:52 pm PDT • Views: 249
Fighting between Hamas and Fatah kills 7.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Heavily armed Hamas militiamen’s efforts to break up anti-government protests on Sunday sparked gunbattles across the Gaza Strip that killed seven people in the worst internal Palestinian violence since Hamas took power.
Militants from the opposition Fatah group retaliated by torching the Palestinian Cabinet building in the West Bank. The violence comes amid growing frustration over forming a national unity government that could end crippling economic sanctions.
The fighting continued throughout the day and sent schoolchildren and other civilians in downtown Gaza City fleeing for cover.
“This is forbidden in Islam, we are in the holy month of Ramadan,” said Majed Badawi, 33, who managed to escape after his car was caught in the crossfire. “It’s a shame on Hamas, who call themselves real Muslims, and a shame of Fatah as well. Why are they fighting and over what? We are victims because of both of them.”
Frank says: