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| By Israel Insider staff August 2, 2008 |
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150 Fatah-allied fighters, including 15 wounded during a bloody battle with Hamas militants in Gaza which left four dead, fled to Israel late Saturday. They dodged mortar shells and rifle fire trying to foil their escape to the Jewish State, Army Radio reported.
The IDF allowed the wounded Palestinians and the others to cross the border after having stripping them of their weapons, saying that it was a "humanitarian gesture." They were taken to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba for treatment.
Gaza City was a battleground as Hamas security forces seized control of a Fatah stronghold. Hamas said it detained dozens of men, including 10 who had tried to flee disguised as women, and confiscated weapons.
The fighting raged throughout the day in the Shijaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza City, home to 100,000 people, including the Fatah-linked Hilles clan which Hamas held responsible for a car bombing last week that killed five Hamas members dead. 80 were wounded. Twelve of the wounded were children, hospital officials said, and eight people were in critical condition.
Ahmed Hilles, a clan leader and Fatah official, said Hamas police cut off electricity as they launched the raid. Explaining why the clan fought back, he said: "You have to decide: Either be trampled under Hamas' shoes, or stand in dignity." Three Hamas police and a member of the Hilles clan were killed.
Hilles was among those who had been wounded and was allowed to cross into Israel.
Meanwhile, five Palestinians were killed and 18 wounded in a smuggling tunnel under the Gaza-Egypt border after Egyptian troops blew up the entrance, officials said Saturday. |
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