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Abbas warns of collapse in Gaza | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has warned that continuing violence in Gaza risks taking the region to the point of collapse. | |
Armed members from the rival Hamas and Fatah factions have been battling in Gaza for control of key security posts. | |
In the latest incident, several Palestinians were killed in an explosion in a tunnel under a security headquarters in Khan Younis. | |
At least 50 people have died in the latest bout of fighting this week. | At least 50 people have died in the latest bout of fighting this week. |
Mahmoud Abbas, who heads Fatah, called the violence in Gaza "madness" and called on all parties to stop. | |
"Without a ceasefire and stopping of the fighting I think the situation will collapse in Gaza," he warned from Ramallah in the West Bank. | |
International appeals | |
Supporters of Mr Abbas blamed Hamas militants for the blast in the southern city of Khan Younis that destroyed much of a building used by the Preventive Security force. | |
Witnesses said several people were trapped in the rubble. | Witnesses said several people were trapped in the rubble. |
Civilians have been caught in the crossfireThe United Nations, the Arab League, the European Union and Russia have all called for an end to the fighting. | |
Arab League head Amr Moussa said the factional fighting was destroying the Palestinian cause. | |
The UN relief agency said it was temporarily scaling back its operations in the Gaza Strip after two of its workers, both Palestinians, were killed in the fighting. | |
Hamas men appear to be systematically taking over Fatah-controlled buildings in northern Gaza, including the National Security Forces headquarters. | |
Fatah says it will boycott cabinet meetings of the unity government. | |
After an emergency meeting in the West Bank on Tuesday day, Fatah said it would pull out of the government if a truce could not be adhered to. | |
But the fighting continued on Wednesday, spreading to central and southern Gaza. | |
Gunmen have been fighting for control of high-rise buildings serving as sniper positions and Hamas said it had bulldozed a Fatah outpost controlling Gaza's main north-south road. |