Gaza Human Rights Organizations Condemn Violence between Fatah Supporters and Palestinian Police

The undersigned human rights organizations strongly condemn the bloody events in several areas across the Gaza Strip over the past few days. These events were motivated by the Palestinian police ban and crackdown on celebrations of the anniversary of the establishment of the Fatah movement. The ensuing violence resulted in seven people being killed, and dozens more injured.

Violence erupted after the Government in Gaza banned celebrations to mark the January 1st anniversary of the establishment of the Fatah movement, in what appears to have been a response to the ban imposed by the Government in Ramallah on Hamas marking the December 14th anniversary of the establishment of Hamas in the West Bank. In the lead up to the Fatah anniversary, police and Hamas gunmen in Gaza launched a campaign of arrests against Fatah activists, searched Fatah offices and the homes of people affiliated with Fatah. In addition, they removed Fatah banners from rooftops and public areas.

At approximately 8:00 on 31 December, Ibrahim Mohammad Abu Delakh, age 78, was killed when members of Hamas attacked his house in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza. Four other people, including Abu Delakh's wife, were injured in the attack. A few minutes prior to the incident, police had arrived at the house, demanding Abu Delakh remove Fatah flags from the roof top. The police beat the residents with sticks.

During December 31st, Fatah leader Ibrahim Abu El-Naja was assaulted and humiliated by unidentified gunmen, who shaved his head and mustache before releasing him.

Regarding armed clashes, the most serious incidents occurred at approximately 18:30 on Monday, 31 December 2007, when clashes broke out between dozens of Fatah supporters in the El-Amal Quarter in Khan Yunis and Hamas supporters near El-Rahma Mosque. Both sides threw rocks, and shots were fired.

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2008/02-2008.html