Clashes continued in the Gaza Strip overnight as the death toll from factional fighting rose to 40.
The mother of killed security officer Ahmed Abu Aiada collapses as she arrives at the morgue of the a Gaza City hospital. Hamas gunmen raided the home of a top Fatah security official Wednesday, killing five of his bodyguards, a spokesman said, as violence spiralled in Gaza despite a new Palestinian truce deal(AFP/Said Khatib)
At least 40 people have died in fighting in Gaza since factional fighting broke out on Sunday.
The BBC reported:
Gunmen have killed at least 13 people in the latest factional violence in the Gaza Strip, ending a third attempt at a ceasefire in as many days.
A dawn raid on the home of a top Fatah official left five people dead, only hours after the truce was agreed by the feuding Hamas and Fatah factions.Later Hamas gunmen ambushed a jeep and mistakenly killed five fighters from their own side held by pro-Fatah men.
Some 40 people have died since fierce fighting broke out in Gaza on Sunday.
Two members of the pro-Fatah Preventive Security force and a bystander were also killed in the ambush, in the centre of Gaza City.
Palestinian Fatah gunmen take their positions at a street in Gaza May 16, 2007. Hamas gunmen stormed the home of President Mahmoud Abbas’s top security chief in Gaza and at least 16 people were killed in fierce factional fighting on Wednesday that pushed Palestinians closer to all-out civil war. (REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)
Palestinian mourners carry the body of a security force officer loyal to the Fatah Movement killed during an attack by Hamas militants, during his funeral in Gaza City,Tuesday, May 15, 2007. Hamas gunmen on Tuesday ambushed rival Fatah forces near a key crossing along the Israeli border, killing eight people in the deadliest battle yet in three days of factional fighting. (AP Photo/Hatem Omar-MaanImages)
The Gaza militants also fired a barrage of missiles into Israel overnight:
Militants from the hardline Islamist group also fired barrages of rockets at Israeli towns, an apparent attempt to draw Israel into the internal Palestinian conflict that has sent the coastal territory spiraling into chaos.
One Jerusalem and Israellycool have extensive reports on the Qassam missile attacks on Israel.
Previously this week:
7 Dead in Gaza as Factional Violence Escalates!
Despite Truce- Gaza Death Toll Rises to 17 in Factional Fighting
