Region | Palestinian Territories

Fatah supporters seek refuge in Israel after Hamas crackdown

Dozens of Fatah supporters sent back to Gaza after more than 180 seek refuge in Israel to flee Hamas crackdown.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 08:18 August 3, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Blindfolded Palestinians, who fled to Israel from Gaza, sit aboard a bus as they are transported by the Israeli army near the Erez Crossing, just outside the northern Gaza Strip
  • Image Credit: Reuters
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Gaza City: More than 180 Fatah supporters who fled into Israel from the Gaza Strip were in Israeli custody Sunday, after escaping a Hamas crackdown that killed nine people.

However, 30 of them were sent back to Gaza on Sunday and were immediately detained by Hamas security forces, a Hamas official said.

Israeli troops allowed most of the fleeing Gazans to cross the heavily guarded border on Saturday, stripping them first to make sure none were wearing explosives.

Mortar shells hit near the crossing as the Palestinians fled their homes for the territory of their longtime enemy. The Israeli soldiers prepared stretchers, and ambulances rushed the badly wounded to nearby hospitals.

Haim Ramon, Israel's vice prime minister, said on Sunday that Israel has a responsibility to help supporters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is negotiating a peace deal with Israel.

"We have to decide on one central and basic position, and that is that we cooperate and want to help the pragmatic forces among the Palestinians, those who want to negotiate with us and who are fighting the radical Islam of Hamas, those who oppose terrorism," Ramon told Army Radio.

A spokesman for Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the wounded would remain in Israel for treatment and the rest would be returned to the Hamas-held territory.

Hamas forces raided the homes of a pro-Fatah clan in Shejaia suburb in Gaza City on Saturday to arrest 11 suspects in bombings that killed five Hamas gunmen and a girl last Friday.

At least nine people were killed and 95 others hurt in the violence.

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