2006年VOA标准英语-Hamas Gunmen Fire on Fatah Rivals in Gaza

（单词翻译）

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
12 December 2006

Four people have been wounded in the latest violence between rival Palestinian factions² in the Gaza Strip. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, a deadly shooting incident has set off a wave of anger against the ruling Islamic militant³ group Hamas.

Hamas gunmen opened fire on demonstrators from the rival Fatah faction¹ in the Gaza town of Khan Unis, sparking a brief gun battle. Policemen loyal to Fatah returned fire.

Palestinian police officers stand near burning tires blocking a road during a protest against the shooting deaths of three young sons of a senior intelligence office, in Gaza City early Monday, 12 Dec. 2006

The incident occurred as Fatah supporters marched in the streets to protest the killing⁴ of three children in a drive-by shooting on Monday. The children's father is a senior intelligence officer who is considered an enemy of Hamas. Fatah blames Hamas for the shooting and is promising⁵ revenge.

Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas ordered thousands of armed police to deploy⁶ in Gaza in a show of force. He said the killing of children is intolerable.

"This is an ugly and inhuman⁷ crime perpetrated by lawless gangs," he said.

The violence is part of a deepening power struggle between the moderate President Abbas and Hamas, which has raised fears of a Palestinian civil war. Tensions increased nearly two weeks ago, when talks between the two sides on forming a national unity⁸ government acceptable to the international community collapsed⁹.

The Hamas-led government has been crippled by international sanctions, imposed because of its refusal to renounce¹⁰ violence and recognize Israel.

The dire¹¹ economic situation is adding fuel to the fire. Hamas has been unable to pay the full salaries of 165,000 government employees since it took power in March. Palestinian analyst¹² Wadia Abu Nasser says most of the unpaid¹³ workers, including 80,000 policemen, are aligned¹⁴ with Fatah.

"This current boycott¹⁵ on the Palestinian government is hurting mainly Fatah employees because Hamas is paying its own employees through different channels," he said. "[Those] who are not paid nowadays are mainly Fatah-affiliated activists¹⁶."

In a move that could further aggravate¹⁷ tensions, Mr. Abbas plans to give a speech on Saturday calling for early elections. Hamas says that amounts to a coup¹⁸ d'état.