Israel Resource Review |
23rd December, 2006 |
Contents:
MAJOR GAZA CLANS INVOLVED IN MILITIA WAR
Middle East News Line
Major Palestinian clans have been participating in the Fatah-Hamas war.
The clans include families involved in arms smuggling and property deals
in the central and southern Gaza Strip. Clan members were said to have
fought for both Fatah and Hamas.
Palestinian sources identified some of the clans as Abu Taha and
Dughmosh. They said many of the clan members have been employed by the
Palestinian Authority.
On Friday, Fatah and Hamas resumed gun battles in Gaza City. The
fighting, which shattered two days of relative calm, erupted when Hamas
operatives who belonged to a major clan raided a Fatah stronghold in an
attempt to free two members of the ruling Islamic movement. The attackers
were identified as coming from the Al Lali family.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights has tracked the involvement of
clans in the militia war. On December 20, the center detailed a clash earlier
that day in Gaza City between Fatah and Hamas.
The battle began when the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry's Executive
Force sought to arrest a Fatah gunman. The Executive Force and Fatah engaged
in a two hour shootout in which two people were killed.
Both casualties were identified as members of the Dughmosh clan. PCHR
identified them as Mahmoud Mansour Dughmosh, 25; and Ashraf Dughmosh, 25.
The Dughmosh clan has been described as one of the most active clans in
the Gaza Strip. Dughmosh was said to control much of the tunnel smuggling
industry in Rafah.
Israel has been quietly supporting Fatah in the militia war. Palestinian
sources said PA officers aligned with Fatah and injured by Hamas fire were
treated in an Israeli hospital. The sources said the PA officers feared
being hospitalized in the Gaza Strip because of the prospect of Hamas
retaliation.
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