almotamar.net google - Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Thirteen Palestinians were killed and at least 170 were wounded in the Gaza Strip as Hamas and Fatah gunmen clashed, breaking a cease-fire between the two factions after two days.
Nine people were killed in the clashes today, adding to the four who died yesterday when a convoy of trucks was attacked by Hamas gunmen, Joma'a al-Saqqa, a spokesman for Gaza City's Shiffa Hospital, said by telephone. The attack on the convoy sparked the latest round of fighting.
The heaviest clashes were taking place near the Islamic University of Gaza and the Interior Ministry building in western Gaza City, institutions affiliated with Hamas, witnesses said. Hamas gunmen attacked an installation belonging to a Fatah- affiliated security force in Beit Lahia and torched a labor union radio station linked to the movement, the Palestinian Ma'an news agency reported, citing unidentified witnesses.
The Jan. 30 truce aimed to end growing violence as the two sides struggle for control over the Palestinian Authority. The Islamic movement Hamas, which is regarded as a terrorist group by the U.S. and European Union, took control of parliament and the cabinet in March 2006 after winning elections. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, retained the presidency and controls most of the security forces.
Forces affiliated to Fatah arrested seven Iranians helping Hamas with weapons training during a raid late yesterday in Gaza City, Haaretz reported, citing an unidentified Fatah official. Missiles and about 1,400 weapons were found at the Islamic University, the official said.
Transporting Arms
Hamas said it attacked the convoy yesterday because it was transporting arms for use by the Fatah-affiliated security forces. A spokesman for Rafah border crossing, Saeb Dahab, denied that and said the trucks were carrying tents and other equipment to aid homeless civilians.
The U.S. and other foreign aid donors suspended assistance to the Authority after Hamas took over, saying the movement must recognize Israel, honor existing peace agreements signed between Israelis and Palestinians, and disavow violence.
The so-called Middle East Quartet of the U.S., Russia, the United Nations and European Union meets in Washington today to assess the financial sanctions on the Palestinians and their 2003 ``road map'' Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who will attend the talks, wants the Quartet to go beyond ``mere statements,'' his spokeswoman Michele Montas told reporters in New York yesterday.
Saudi Arabia Meeting
``He is fully aware that, within the region and beyond, many are looking at the Quartet to be more energetic in its efforts than it has been at times to break the current impasse in the peace process,'' she added, according to a statement on the UN Web site.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country holds the EU presidency, and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner will also attend the talks.
The road map calls for a series of steps to be taken by Israel and the Palestinians with the final aim of creating a Palestinian state. The process stalled as both Israel and the Palestinians accused each other of not meeting their initial commitments to the agreement.
The fighting is undermining efforts to form a unity government that would satisfy international donors and Hamas. Abbas warned Dec. 16 that he may call early elections if an agreement is not reached.
Abbas will meet with Hamas leader, Khalid Mashaal, in Saudi Arabia next week in another effort to revive talks on a national unity government, the Associated Press reported, citing an unidentified aide to Abbas.