Region | Palestinian Territories
Haniyah calls for calm in Gaza
Palestinian Prime Minister Esmail Haniyah has said there will no civil war and called on feuding rival factions to reign themselves in.
- Agencies
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
Gaza: Palestinian Prime Minister Esmail Haniyah has said there will no civil war and called on feuding rival factions to reign themselves in.
Tension has been rising in Gaza after violent clashes between Hamas and Fatah groups, which have left more than five people dead in the past fortnight.
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A Jordanian diplomat's driver became the latest victim of the violence on Monday when he was caught in the crossfire of a bun battle between rival factions.
Speaking before going into a meeting with Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, Haniyeh said: "Civil war is a term that does not exist in the Palestinian dictionary. I assure the people that these incidents can be overcome."
"I tell our people not to be worried, our people are united despite these painful incidents. There is a real danger ahead of us and that is the (Israeli) occupation," he said.
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Cabinet spokesman Ghazi Hamad said Haniyeh had also held several meetings on Monday with Hamas and Fatah leaders.
He added: "He is calling on all parties to show restraint and not tose weapons at the expense of dialogue."
However, the Hamas government will not withdraw the 3,000 strong security force it deployed onto the streets of Gaza last week, in direct defiance of an order by Mahmoud Abbas.
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