Khan Younis - Ma‘an - In a new breach of the Mecca agreement, violent clashes erupted in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.
An activist from the Izzeddin Al-Qassam Brigades, an armed wing affiliated to Hamas, was killed and another injured when unidentified gunmen shot at them in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip.
Medical sources reported that 27 year old Mohammad Kafarna was shot dead by armed men, who were shooting from a car in the centre of the Beit Hanoun and another activist was injured. Both men were transported to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
A large contingent of security men were deployed in the streets following the incident and a car chase broke out. It is believed that the assailants took refuge in a nearby house and fierce clashes erupted, but no casualties were reported.
Sources from Hamas said that many armed men shot at the house of the local council member Fayza Zanin, but no injuries were reported.
Abu Obieda, the spokesman of Izzeddin Al-Qassam Brigades, said that a known group shot at the Izzeddin Al-Qassam Brigades while they were holding a training exercise in one of the areas of Beit Hanoun. He added ‘we thought the shooting was from the Israelis but it was discovered that the shooting came from a car and now the vehicle is being pursued.‘
Fatah member, Tawfiq Abu Khousa, said that some of the Izzeddin Al-Qassam Brigades bombed several houses and launched many projectiles at the headquarters of the national security and burned five containers, partially destroying two of the national security cars.
Abu Khousa told Ma‘an that ‘some of the Executive Force [a security force established by the interior ministry] and Hamas members are using aggression in an attempt to explode the internal situation‘.
Abu Khousa denied what was said about Fatah members shooting at Izzeddin Al-Qassam Brigades, he added ‘the Hamas members are committing aggressive acts in Beit Hanoun; they have sent many of the Executive Force onto the streets of the town and are shooting at the houses of citizens‘.
Abu Khousa reiterated that these acts are an attempt to disrupt the internal Palestinian situation and regress to the situation previous to the Mecca agreement.
He confirmed that Fatah has contacted all the concerned parties especially the Egyptians, the Saudis, and the Palestinian higher committee, in addition to the Hamas movement‘s leaders to inform them of the current climate in the Gaza Strip.
Abu Khousa called on all parties to intervene to stop these ‘crimes‘. He called on all Hamas‘ ‘wise men to stop the elements of Izzeddin Al-Qassam Brigades and put an end to the criminal activity.‘
Director of the police department in Beit Hanoun, lieutenant colonel Fawwaz Hamad, affirmed on Sunday that he did not participate in the regrettable events of Saturday night and Sunday morning in the town.
Hamad told Ma‘an that members of the Executive Force and the Izzeddin Al-Qassam Brigades shot at his and his brothers‘ houses injuring his brother, Yasser. Hamad was unsure whether the attack was arbitrary or he was a deliberate target.
Hamad affirmed that his and his brothers‘ houses on Al-Quds street were damaged.