Palestinian security sources reported that one security officer was killed after gunmen fired at his vehicle in Gaza City Thursday night. At least five members of the preventive security force were injured during clashes between Fateh and Hamas gunmen in Khan Younis.
The officer was identified as Khader Affana, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security force, loyal to the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.
Affana was hit by gunfire directed at his vehicle as he was traveling through central Gaza City. He later died of his wounds at a Gaza hospital.
In a separate incident at least five officers of the Palestinian Preventive Security forces were injured after gunmen opened fire at them in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian officer accused Hamas gunmen of ambushing the vehicle.
Hamas also said that Fateh gunmen opened fire at one of the movement’s senior commanders, slightly injuring one of its members who was accompanying him.
Earlier on Thursday, thousands of Palestinian security men protested in Gaza and fired rounds of live ammunition in the air before attacking the parliament building in the city. The security men were protesting over unpaid wager since Hamas took office in March.
The security men were also protesting a plan by Hamas’ Palestinian Authority Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, to pay partial salaries to the lowest paid workers in the Palestinian Authority in the next few days.
Later on, the officers marched towards the Palestinian President’s home in Gaza and rallied in his support.
Tension between Fateh and Hamas remains high after Abbas set a deadline regarding the Detainees Document of principles, which has been set for next week.
The document calls for the establishment of a Palestinian State within the borders of 1967 and living side by side with Israel. Abbas said he will declare a referendum on this issue.
