2007年VOA标准英语-Truce Collapses, At Least 11 Palestinians Kille

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
11 June 2007

At least nine Palestinians have been killed in a flare-up of factional fighting in the Gaza Strip. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, repeated attempts to restore calm have failed amid a power struggle that is growing move violent.

Palestinian mourners carry the body of Hamas supporter Mohammed Rifati during his funeral in Gaza City, 11 Jun 2007

Gunmen from Hamas and the rival Palestinian Fatah faction¹ fought fierce battles across Gaza. Government headquarters came under fire sending Cabinet ministers fleeing from their weekly meeting. There were also clashes at two hospitals.

The fighting has become increasingly brutal². In one incident, Hamas gunmen dragged the senior Fatah official in northern Gaza out of his home and executed him. Medics say was hit by 45 bullets. Earlier, a man from Hamas and another from Fatah were hurled³ to their deaths from high-rise buildings.

The fighting has raised fears of a Palestinian civil war. Cease-fires have quickly collapsed⁴ time and again, including one earlier on Monday.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah appealed to both sides for calm.

"This is shameful⁵ for our people," Mr. Abbas said. "I call on everyone to stop the violence immediately so our people can live normal lives."

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas also called for a truce⁶.

But it appears that both leaders have lost control of the gunmen who rule the streets.

1 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

2 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

3 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

5 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

6 truce   

n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束

参考例句：

• The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism.热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
• She had thought of flying out to breathe the fresh air in an interval of truce.她想跑出去呼吸一下休战期间的新鲜空气。