Hamas militia returns to streets of Gaza
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - The Hamas-led government sent its private militia back into the streets of Gaza on Saturday, a day after withdrawing the force to help calm an increasingly bloody standoff with forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas officials said the move wasn't meant as a provocation. But Abbas'
Fatah movement said the deployment raised the chances of new fighting. Fatah officials also said the move threatened negotiations on the president's ultimatum to the militants to accept a plan that would implicitly recognize
Israel.
The 3,000-strong Hamas militia has been at the center of the Palestinian infighting, and Hamas' decision to withdraw the black-clad force on Friday was widely seen as a conciliatory gesture.
Youssef Zahar, spokesman for the militia, said Saturday's deployment did not contradict the previous day's decision. At the time, Hamas said the force would remain on standby at fixed locations and resume limited patrols in the future.
"The police stations are closed to us, so we're making use of some streets," Zahar said.
The presence of the Hamas gunmen was much smaller than earlier this week, with forces stationed at several major intersections and near the homes of senior Hamas government officials. The situation appeared to be calm, and in some instances, Hamas gunmen chatted freely with regular policemen.
Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, however, said the return of the Hamas force, even in small numbers, was "unacceptable and illegal."
"The lack of its presence on the streets yesterday brought great relief. Their return signals the possibility of new friction," he said.
He accused Hamas of trying to carry out "political extortion" as the two sides continue their dialogue aimed at ending the standoff. Officials from Hamas, Fatah and smaller Palestinian factions were working Saturday to form a committee that will discuss Abbas' proposal.
Abbas has been locked in a power struggle with Hamas since the Islamic group defeated Fatah in legislative elections in January. Abbas, elected separately last year, has been seeking to curb Hamas' authority in security matters and other areas.
Hamas decided to form its militia in April after Abbas placed a loyalist in charge of forces that report to the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry. The militia was deployed for the first time last week, setting off days of clashes with Fatah-dominated security forces that killed 10 people.
Abbas issued his ultimatum on Thursday at the beginning of talks with Hamas meant to halt the infighting. He gave the group 10 days to accept the plan — drafted by senior Hamas and Fatah militants imprisoned by Israel — before he takes the matter to a referendum. Palestinian pollsters expect the public to strongly support the proposal.
Hamas has been divided over the proposal, which implies recognition of Israel and would signal an end to the group's stated goal of eliminating the Jewish state.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said that since a parliament election was held just four months ago, there was no need for a referendum.
Haniyeh said he'd discuss the referendum idea with Abbas in coming days, and check the legal issues.
Hamas, which has killed scores of Israelis in suicide bombings, has resisted intense international pressure to renounce violence and recognize Israel, despite crippling economic sanctions.
Abbas wants to resume long-stalled peace talks with Israel. But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says this is impossible as long as Hamas remains committed to wiping Israel off the map.
Olmert says if peace efforts remain stalled, he will unilaterally set a final border with the
West Bank. Olmert's plan calls for a significant pullback from the area, but falls short of a full withdrawal demanded by the Palestinians.
Abbas wants a future independent Palestinian state to include the
Gaza Strip and all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War.
In other developments, Israeli soldiers shot a Palestinian ambulance that was carrying a woman in labor early Saturday because the vehicle was behaving in a "suspicious manner," the army said.
Israeli troops, in Nablus to arrest wanted militants, fired at the ambulance as it approached them, hitting a headlight, the army said.
The Palestinian driver said the ambulance's engine was damaged by gunfire and they said they had to call another ambulance to take the woman to the hospital.
The ambulance had been observed by troops picking up and dropping off passengers repeatedly, raising suspicion that it was involved in militant activity, military officials said.
Hamas officials said the move wasn't meant as a provocation. But Abbas'
Fatah movement said the deployment raised the chances of new fighting. Fatah officials also said the move threatened negotiations on the president's ultimatum to the militants to accept a plan that would implicitly recognize
Israel.
The 3,000-strong Hamas militia has been at the center of the Palestinian infighting, and Hamas' decision to withdraw the black-clad force on Friday was widely seen as a conciliatory gesture.
Youssef Zahar, spokesman for the militia, said Saturday's deployment did not contradict the previous day's decision. At the time, Hamas said the force would remain on standby at fixed locations and resume limited patrols in the future.
"The police stations are closed to us, so we're making use of some streets," Zahar said.
The presence of the Hamas gunmen was much smaller than earlier this week, with forces stationed at several major intersections and near the homes of senior Hamas government officials. The situation appeared to be calm, and in some instances, Hamas gunmen chatted freely with regular policemen.
Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, however, said the return of the Hamas force, even in small numbers, was "unacceptable and illegal."
"The lack of its presence on the streets yesterday brought great relief. Their return signals the possibility of new friction," he said.
He accused Hamas of trying to carry out "political extortion" as the two sides continue their dialogue aimed at ending the standoff. Officials from Hamas, Fatah and smaller Palestinian factions were working Saturday to form a committee that will discuss Abbas' proposal.
Abbas has been locked in a power struggle with Hamas since the Islamic group defeated Fatah in legislative elections in January. Abbas, elected separately last year, has been seeking to curb Hamas' authority in security matters and other areas.
Hamas decided to form its militia in April after Abbas placed a loyalist in charge of forces that report to the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry. The militia was deployed for the first time last week, setting off days of clashes with Fatah-dominated security forces that killed 10 people.
Abbas issued his ultimatum on Thursday at the beginning of talks with Hamas meant to halt the infighting. He gave the group 10 days to accept the plan — drafted by senior Hamas and Fatah militants imprisoned by Israel — before he takes the matter to a referendum. Palestinian pollsters expect the public to strongly support the proposal.
Hamas has been divided over the proposal, which implies recognition of Israel and would signal an end to the group's stated goal of eliminating the Jewish state.
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said that since a parliament election was held just four months ago, there was no need for a referendum.
Haniyeh said he'd discuss the referendum idea with Abbas in coming days, and check the legal issues.
Hamas, which has killed scores of Israelis in suicide bombings, has resisted intense international pressure to renounce violence and recognize Israel, despite crippling economic sanctions.
Abbas wants to resume long-stalled peace talks with Israel. But Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says this is impossible as long as Hamas remains committed to wiping Israel off the map.
Olmert says if peace efforts remain stalled, he will unilaterally set a final border with the
West Bank. Olmert's plan calls for a significant pullback from the area, but falls short of a full withdrawal demanded by the Palestinians.
Abbas wants a future independent Palestinian state to include the
Gaza Strip and all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War.
In other developments, Israeli soldiers shot a Palestinian ambulance that was carrying a woman in labor early Saturday because the vehicle was behaving in a "suspicious manner," the army said.
Israeli troops, in Nablus to arrest wanted militants, fired at the ambulance as it approached them, hitting a headlight, the army said.
The Palestinian driver said the ambulance's engine was damaged by gunfire and they said they had to call another ambulance to take the woman to the hospital.
The ambulance had been observed by troops picking up and dropping off passengers repeatedly, raising suspicion that it was involved in militant activity, military officials said.
posted by Marko at 5/27/2006 08:18:00 AM
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