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Hamas battles for control of Gaza Hamas battles for control of Gaza
(about 2 hours later)
Militants from the Palestinian faction Hamas are pushing back rivals Fatah in the Gaza Strip after several days of heavy fighting in which 60 people died.Militants from the Palestinian faction Hamas are pushing back rivals Fatah in the Gaza Strip after several days of heavy fighting in which 60 people died.
Hamas said it had gained control of much of southern Gaza after pushing Fatah gunmen out of the north.Hamas said it had gained control of much of southern Gaza after pushing Fatah gunmen out of the north.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has warned of a collapse in Gaza unless the fighting stops.
The fighting has spilled over into the West Bank with a gun battle breaking out in the northern town of Nablus.The fighting has spilled over into the West Bank with a gun battle breaking out in the northern town of Nablus.
Hamas appears to be winning this bitter battle for all-out control of Gaza, says the BBC's Katya Adler in Ramallah, on the West Bank. A Hamas official said an agreement had been reached with Fatah on a truce, but clashes continued in Gaza City.
The Hamas source told the BBC that Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, from Hamas, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, from Fatah, had approved a truce plan in a telephone call.
No details have been released on how or when the fighting is to stop, but the plan includes the right for Hamas to choose an interior minister who will have control over all Palestinian security forces.
'Madness''Madness'
Armed members from the rival Hamas and Fatah factions have been battling in Gaza for several days for control of key security posts.Armed members from the rival Hamas and Fatah factions have been battling in Gaza for several days for control of key security posts.
Without a ceasefire and stopping of the fighting I think the situation will collapse in Gaza Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza residents talk In pictures: Gaza fightingWithout a ceasefire and stopping of the fighting I think the situation will collapse in Gaza Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza residents talk In pictures: Gaza fighting
At least 17 people were reported killed in fighting on Wednesday with more than 60 confirmed to have died in the last week.At least 17 people were reported killed in fighting on Wednesday with more than 60 confirmed to have died in the last week.
Mahmoud Abbas, who heads Fatah, called the violence in Gaza "madness" and called on all parties to stop. Hamas appears to be winning this bitter battle for all-out control of Gaza, says the BBC's Katya Adler in Ramallah, on the West Bank.
"Without a ceasefire and stopping of the fighting I think the situation will collapse in Gaza," he warned from Ramallah in the West Bank.
Clashes have been going on since Saturday when hundreds of Fatah and Hamas gunmen fought on the streets and rooftops of Rafah with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.Clashes have been going on since Saturday when hundreds of Fatah and Hamas gunmen fought on the streets and rooftops of Rafah with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.
A truce agreed to on Monday was quickly broken and fighting escalated across northern Gaza.A truce agreed to on Monday was quickly broken and fighting escalated across northern Gaza.
On Wednesday, the fighting spread across central and southern Gaza as Hamas appeared to be winning control of Fatah-controlled areas.On Wednesday, the fighting spread across central and southern Gaza as Hamas appeared to be winning control of Fatah-controlled areas.
In the latest developments:In the latest developments:
  • At least 200 gunmen of the Fatah-allied Bakr clan surrender to Hamas in Gaza City, clan elders and witnesses say
  • At least 200 gunmen of the Fatah-allied Bakr clan surrender to Hamas in Gaza City, clan elders and witnesses say
  • An explosion wrecks the Khan Younis headquarters of the Fatah-linked Preventive Security force, killing five people
  • An explosion wrecks the Khan Younis headquarters of the Fatah-linked Preventive Security force, killing five people
  • There are clashes in Gaza City near a local Fatah commander's home and in high rise buildings for control of sniper posts. Six militants are reported killed
  • There are clashes in Gaza City near a local Fatah commander's home and in high rise buildings for control of sniper posts. Six militants are reported killed
  • Hamas gunmen gain control of Gaza's main north-south road
  • Hamas gunmen gain control of Gaza's main north-south road
  • And Hamas says it has taken control of the border in the south between Gaza and Egypt.
  • And Hamas says it has taken control of the border in the south between Gaza and Egypt.
    • Even as the fighting intensified in Gaza, violence spread to the West Bank with a gun battle in Nablus. Fatah gunmen took hostage a number of Hamas members.Even as the fighting intensified in Gaza, violence spread to the West Bank with a gun battle in Nablus. Fatah gunmen took hostage a number of Hamas members.
    International appealInternational appeal
    The BBC's Tim Franks was taken by Fatah militants to the Balata refugee camp in Nablus where he was shown the Hamas hostages.The BBC's Tim Franks was taken by Fatah militants to the Balata refugee camp in Nablus where he was shown the Hamas hostages.
    The Fatah men promised "blood for blood" in the West Bank if the Hamas attacks in Gaza did not stop.The Fatah men promised "blood for blood" in the West Bank if the Hamas attacks in Gaza did not stop.
    Rivals: Fatah and Hamas Hamas has issued its own ultimatum to Fatah militants in Gaza to lay down their weapons by 1600 GMT on Friday or risk having them taken from them.Rivals: Fatah and Hamas Hamas has issued its own ultimatum to Fatah militants in Gaza to lay down their weapons by 1600 GMT on Friday or risk having them taken from them.
    A senior UN co-ordinator for the Middle East said the situation in Gaza was one of the gravest crises the Palestinian people have faced.A senior UN co-ordinator for the Middle East said the situation in Gaza was one of the gravest crises the Palestinian people have faced.
    "I think we're witnessing a Hamas takeover in Gaza which will be very difficult to reverse," Michael Williams, a senior UN co-ordinator for the Middle East, told the BBC."I think we're witnessing a Hamas takeover in Gaza which will be very difficult to reverse," Michael Williams, a senior UN co-ordinator for the Middle East, told the BBC.
    Two workers from the UN relief agency were also among those who died on Wednesday.Two workers from the UN relief agency were also among those who died on Wednesday.
    One man was apparently killed in crossfire in Khan Younis, the UNRWA said. The other died from wounds sustained on Tuesday.One man was apparently killed in crossfire in Khan Younis, the UNRWA said. The other died from wounds sustained on Tuesday.
    The UN said it would temporarily scale back its operations in Gaza.The UN said it would temporarily scale back its operations in Gaza.
    Frightened civilians have been forced to stay in their homes as residents of Gaza City braced for an expected showdown between forces of the rival factions.Frightened civilians have been forced to stay in their homes as residents of Gaza City braced for an expected showdown between forces of the rival factions.
    The international community echoed calls for a ceasefire, and Arab League head Amr Moussa said the fighting was destroying the Palestinian cause.The international community echoed calls for a ceasefire, and Arab League head Amr Moussa said the fighting was destroying the Palestinian cause.
    Fatah also says it will boycott cabinet meetings of the unity government if a truce cannot be reached.Fatah also says it will boycott cabinet meetings of the unity government if a truce cannot be reached.
    Are you in Gaza? Have you been caught up in the violence? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:Are you in Gaza? Have you been caught up in the violence? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
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