Eight people were wounded Friday night in the southern Gaza strip city of Rafah in clashes between supporters of Fatah and Hamas over claimed irregularities in the second stage of local elections, which took place on Thursday.
On Thursday night, preliminary results showed that Fatah has won a majority of seats, yet on Friday morning, unofficial results announced by the city’s election committee claimed a mistake and announced a Hamas triumph.
Fatah representatives filed Friday complain, demanding a second count of votes, and organized a march to protest what they described as voting irregularities.
On Friday night, a heated debate between supporters of Fatah and Hamas turned into a fist fighting and later into stone throwing. The condition of one of the wounded was described as very serious.
The Palestinian central election committee will announce the final official results in all communities on Sunday.ÂÂ
