Pat Dollard

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BBC:

August 2, 2008

Three people have been killed in Gaza in fighting between militant group Hamas and allies of its rival, Fatah.

Reports said 35 people were wounded after Hamas security officials surrounded a house allegedly linked to a deadly bombing a week ago.

Hamas said the owners of the house, allied to its rival Fatah, were involved in the bombing, which killed five Hamas men and a girl.

Saturday’s violence was the worst in a week of tit-for-tat operations.

Hamas and Fatah have targeted rival supporters, with Hamas arresting more than 200 Fatah members.

Fatah weapons caches captured Thursday

The operation was the among the most sweeping since Hamas seized power in Gaza from the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in 2007.

Suspicion

The group targeted on Saturday, known as the Hilles clan, has denied accusations it was involved in the bombing of Hamas operatives on 26 July.

However, Hamas fighters surrounded the family home in Gaza City on Saturday morning, using grenades and mortars in an effort to storm the house, reports said.

A spokesman for the Hamas-run interior ministry said the Hilles family was hiding the bombing suspects in its compound.

“The Hilles family has become a military force and members of the family have been attacking, abducting and even killing people. We must put an end to their attacks on innocent citizens,” Ehab al-Ghasin said.

The family denied the allegation.

Dozens of people were later reported to have been injured in the fighting, with 15 arrested, reports said..