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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hamas crackdown on radical group | Hamas crackdown on radical group |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Hamas organisation that controls Gaza has launched a bloody crackdown on a radical Islamist group after it declared Gaza an "Islamic emirate". | The Hamas organisation that controls Gaza has launched a bloody crackdown on a radical Islamist group after it declared Gaza an "Islamic emirate". |
| At least 16 people died and scores were injured when Hamas fighters attacked the Jund Ansar Allah group in a mosque in Rafah, near the Egypt border. | At least 16 people died and scores were injured when Hamas fighters attacked the Jund Ansar Allah group in a mosque in Rafah, near the Egypt border. |
| Hamas also stormed the house of its leader, the cleric Abdul-Latif Moussa, but his fate is not known. | Hamas also stormed the house of its leader, the cleric Abdul-Latif Moussa, but his fate is not known. |
| A Hamas spokesman said that group members must hand themselves in. | A Hamas spokesman said that group members must hand themselves in. |
| The fighting lasted seven hours and ended at about midnight. | The fighting lasted seven hours and ended at about midnight. |
| Six Hamas fighters and one civilian died, the rest of those killed were among the Jund Ansar Allah. | Six Hamas fighters and one civilian died, the rest of those killed were among the Jund Ansar Allah. |
| About 120 people were injured, with some in a critical condition, the BBC's Rushdi Abu Alouf says. | About 120 people were injured, with some in a critical condition, the BBC's Rushdi Abu Alouf says. |
| These declarations [of an Islamic emirate] are aimed towards incitement against the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniya,leader of Hamas in Gaza | These declarations [of an Islamic emirate] are aimed towards incitement against the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniya,leader of Hamas in Gaza |
| The Hamas spokesman, Taher al-Nono, said: "We hold Abdul-Latif Moussa and his followers fully responsible for what happened because of his hasty declaration during Friday prayers of a so-called 'Islamic Emirate'. | The Hamas spokesman, Taher al-Nono, said: "We hold Abdul-Latif Moussa and his followers fully responsible for what happened because of his hasty declaration during Friday prayers of a so-called 'Islamic Emirate'. |
| The Jund Ansar Allah (Army of the Helpers of God) is thought to be linked to al-Qaeda. | The Jund Ansar Allah (Army of the Helpers of God) is thought to be linked to al-Qaeda. |
| Mr Nono said: "Anyone who belongs to this group has to immediately hand himself and his weapons over to the Palestinian police and security forces." | Mr Nono said: "Anyone who belongs to this group has to immediately hand himself and his weapons over to the Palestinian police and security forces." |
| Another Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, branded the cleric's speech "wrong thinking". | Another Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, branded the cleric's speech "wrong thinking". |
| Sealed off | Sealed off |
| Hamas fighters on Friday fired rocket-propelled grenades at Ibn-Taymiyah mosque, where at least 100 Jund Ansar Allah supporters were holed up. | Hamas fighters on Friday fired rocket-propelled grenades at Ibn-Taymiyah mosque, where at least 100 Jund Ansar Allah supporters were holed up. |
| The entire neighbourhood was sealed off as the shooting continued after dark - in what was one of the most violent incidents in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip since an Israeli offensive in December and January. | The entire neighbourhood was sealed off as the shooting continued after dark - in what was one of the most violent incidents in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip since an Israeli offensive in December and January. |
| Abdul-Latif Moussa and his armed supporters had sworn to fight to the death rather than hand over authority of the mosque to Hamas. | Abdul-Latif Moussa and his armed supporters had sworn to fight to the death rather than hand over authority of the mosque to Hamas. |
| During his own Friday sermon, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, dismissed Mr Moussa's comments. | During his own Friday sermon, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, dismissed Mr Moussa's comments. |
| "These declarations [of an Islamic emirate] are aimed towards incitement against the Gaza Strip and an attempt at recruiting an international alliance against the Gaza Strip. | "These declarations [of an Islamic emirate] are aimed towards incitement against the Gaza Strip and an attempt at recruiting an international alliance against the Gaza Strip. |
| "And we warn those who are behind these Israeli Zionist declarations: the Gaza Strip only contains its people." | "And we warn those who are behind these Israeli Zionist declarations: the Gaza Strip only contains its people." |
| Jund Ansar Allah gained some prominence two months ago when it staged a failed attack on a border crossing between Gaza and Israel. | Jund Ansar Allah gained some prominence two months ago when it staged a failed attack on a border crossing between Gaza and Israel. |
| The group is very critical of Hamas, which seized Gaza in 2007, accusing the Islamist group of not being Islamist enough. | The group is very critical of Hamas, which seized Gaza in 2007, accusing the Islamist group of not being Islamist enough. |
| Hamas has cracked down on al-Qaeda-inspired groups in the past, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Katya Adler says. | Hamas has cracked down on al-Qaeda-inspired groups in the past, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Katya Adler says. |
| Hamas is concerned they may attract more extremist members, and has forbidden anyone except what it describes as Hamas security personnel from carrying weapons in Gaza, our correspondent says. | Hamas is concerned they may attract more extremist members, and has forbidden anyone except what it describes as Hamas security personnel from carrying weapons in Gaza, our correspondent says. |
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