Region | Palestinian Territories
Israeli jets strike at Gaza militant positions
Palestinian police storm government offices over PNA's failure to recruit more personnel to bring order
- Reuters
- Published: 00:00 January 3, 2006
Gaza: Israeli aircraft struck at Gaza Strip militants and Palestinian police stormed government offices in the territory yesterday as internal unrest brought new calls for a Palestinian election delay.
Struggling for control, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has resisted growing pressure to postpone the January 25 parliamentary vote from within his ruling Fatah movement which faces a strong challenge from Hamas militants.
Fatah's main militant wing, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, joined calls for an election postponement yesterday after Israeli aircraft destroyed a building in the Gaza Strip which the army said was used by the Brigades for preparing attacks.
Israel also targeted roads that it said were used by militants firing rockets into the Jewish state.
"How will there be an election with the continuation of the killings and destruction," the Brigades said in a statement in Gaza, calling on Abbas to form a national unity government that would prepare for a ballot at a later date.
Senior Fatah officials said the idea had already been rejected by Hamas. The Islamist faction, sworn to destroying Israel, has been buoyed ahead of the polls by Fatah's division between veteran politicians and a young guard.
Meanwhile, firing in the air, hundreds of police stormed government offices in southern Gaza yesterday to protest over the failure of the Palestinian National Authority to give them the strength to bring order despite Abbas's pledge to do so at the weekend.
Gaza's police chief said some of those involved were either ex-militants or still moonlighting for armed factions.
"We are trying every possible effort to create a stable security situation to allow a fair election," said Ala Hosni.
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