This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6651731.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Gun clashes follow Gaza killings Gun clashes follow Gaza killings
(about 1 hour later)
A leader of the Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades has been killed along with his driver in northern Gaza. At least four people have been killed in a surge of violent clashes between rival factions in Gaza.
Baha Abu Jarab was ambushed and shot dead as he drove through the town of Beit Lahiya. The group blamed rival faction Hamas, which denied the claim. A leader of the Fatah-linked al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Baha Abu Jarab, was ambushed and shot dead, along with his driver, in northern Beit Lahiya.
Three people were also wounded during his funeral procession, witnesses said. Fatah blamed rival group Hamas, which denied the claim. At least two people died in gunfights after those killings.
Also on Sunday, 11 Palestinians were wounded, three seriously, in clashes between Hamas and Fatah gunmen outside a mosque in Gaza City. The attacks come days after the groups launched a major security operation to crack down on violence in Gaza.
The attacks come just days after both Palestinian factions launched a major security operation to crack down on violence and lawlessness in Gaza. Following the shooting of Abu Jarab and his driver, two Palestinians were killed and nine wounded in clashes between Hamas and Fatah gunmen outside a mosque in Gaza City.
Most of those wounded were members of Hamas, medical sources told AFP news agency.
Not only the future of the government, but the future of all the Palestinian people will be endangered if these bloody acts continue Mustafa BarghoutiPalestinian Information Minister
Later, three people were wounded during Abu Jarab's funeral procession in Jabaliya, witnesses said.
Back in Gaza City, masked gunmen abducted a Hamas religious scholar as he left a mosque, his family and Hamas officials said.
Ali Sharif, a teacher at the Islamic University in his 70s, was taken outside his home in Sabra neighbourhood.
The kidnappers opened fire when neighbours tried to rescue him, his daughter told Associated Press news agency.
Security operation
It is the worst outbreak of fighting since a February ceasefire between the rival factions, who established a unity government in March.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti called for the rival factions to control their armed forces.
"Not only the future of the government, but the future of all the Palestinian people will be endangered if these bloody acts continue," he said.
Last week, Hamas and Fatah launched a major security operation to crack down on violence and lawlessness in Gaza.
As many as 3,000 police were reported to have taken part in the initial operations.
Officials said that troops loyal to both Fatah and Hamas would now wear the same police uniform and answer to the interior ministry, which has been placed under the control of Hani Qawasmi, a political independent in the coalition government.
Up to 400 people have died in clashes between Palestinian factions since the Islamist Hamas won last year's parliamentary elections.
Since the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, the strip has seen a wave of infighting, armed robberies, deadly family feuds and kidnappings.