'Madness' in Gaza
Updated on 13 June 2007
At least 27 people die in violence between the Hamas and Fatah factions in Gaza.
Militant Hamas fighters have blown up a security headquarters and killed at least nine fighters from the Fatah movement. At least 27 people died in the violence.
President Abbas has warned that the region is in danger of collapse if the fighting continues.
At least 1,000 Palestinians marched through Gaza City shouting "Stop the killing!" - only to spark yet more gunfire, leaving two of the protesters dead.
It is a civil war in all but name. With scores dead, ordinary Palestinians have had enough of the rival gunmen.
In Gaza City today hundreds of unarmed civilians risked their lives in protest, daring to confront the men from Hamas dressed in black.
"Killing people is wrong," said one woman. Another cursed the Hamas leader and what she called his "traitors". A gunman responded by shooting just over the protesters' heads.
'This is madness in Gaza and anyone who carries a weapon is responsible. Without a ceasefire the situation in Gaza will collapse.'Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian president
"Let them kill us!" said one man. And some 15 were reported wounded elsewhere, five of them shot in the head, prompting one man to fight back with nothing more than his bare hands.
As the casualties mount, the Islamists from Hamas, supported by Iran, seem intent on capturing most of Gaza.
They have cut off the main north south road and issued an ultimatum to Fatah forces supposedly loyal to the president: either surrender by Friday night or be disarmed by force.
President Abbas, who is supported by the Americans, is now struggling to assert his authority over both sides.
Israel is now claiming it will consider allowing international peacekeeping forces in.
But it is not just Gaza that is in turmoil. While protesters in the West Bank today chanted shame on the gunmen, the conflict was spreading elsewhere too.
In the town of Nablus, Fatah gunmen rounded up employees at a pro-Hamas television company. They threatened to burn it down before bundling the workers into a car, apparently as hostages.
The situation in Gaza is far more serious, though. The Israelis do not want to reinvade, but they are now claiming they will consider allowing international peacekeeping forces in.
