A member of the Fatah-controlled Palestinian security forces was killed and four others were wounded Thursday, doctors and witnesses said, in the latest factional clashes in the Gaza Strip.
The shootout, which occurred on a major Gaza road, began when a group of security officers riding in a car on their way from the funeral of top Gaza security commander Nabil Hodhod clashed with members of the new militia.
Hodhod, who was loyal to Abbas’ Fatah movement, was killed in a car bombing Wednesday that left another man seriously wounded. No organization took responsibility for the blast.
Both sides accused the other of firing first in Thursday’s clash.
The violence is the latest in a string of gunfights, assassinations and bombings between members of the Fatah-controlled security forces and a new security 3,000-strong unit formed by Hamas to counter Fatah’s control of the streets.
