Nine Palestinians reportedly killed during Arafat commemorative rally

Monday November 12, 2007 13:00 by John Smith - IMEMC & agencies johnsmithimemc at gmail dot com

Nine Palestinians were on Monday killed during a mass rally commemorating the death of Yasser Arafat in Gaza city, media sources have indicated.

Palestinian civilians and political figures remember Arafat's death

Initial eyewitness reports suggest that the Gaza police force attacked the rally after an armed man, reported by Hamas sources to be a Fateh gunman, opened fire from nearby rooftops – a report that has yet to be confirmed.

IMEMC's correspondent in Gaza city, who attended the demonstration, reported that Hamas forces attacked and assaulted demonstrators, leaving many Palestinians injured.

The situation remains tense, with police forces deployed across the city and the death toll expected to rise.

Earlier reports suggested that hundreds of thousands of Gaza residents attended the rally, carrying Fateh banners, Arafat posters, and chanting slogans commemorating the late president.

Palestinian media sources indicated that the rally was attended by people from across the region, with some traveling to Gaza city, on foot, from towns as far away as Beit Hanoun and Rafah.

The Fateh movement had earlier accused the ruling Hamas government of attempting to disrupt the rally, with reports suggesting that Hamas-affiliated police forces had established checkpoints around Gaza city, in addition to seizing pro-Fateh banners, posters and t-shirts from the movement's supporters.

Reports circulated on Sunday indicated that the Executive force had attacked a number of impromptu rallies in the al-Buraij and Nussayrat refugee camps.

The Spokesman for the de facto Interior Ministry in Gaza, Hani al-Dani, denied the accusations.

Seven dead, dozens injured as Hamas-allied police fire on Fateh rally honoring Arafat in Gaza

Date: 12 / 11 / 2007 Time: 12:35

Gaza – Ma'an –

Seven Palestinians were killed when Hamas-allied police opened fire on a Fateh-organized rally in Gaza City held marking the third anniversary of the death of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat on Monday.

Palestine TV identified one of the dead was as Tariq Najjar. Dozens of others were wounded when gunshots sent thousands of panicked Fateh supporters running.

Thousands of Fateh supporters had thronged Al-Katiba Square near Al-Azhar University in the largest Fateh rally since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June.

Fateh Revolutionary Council member Ibrahim Abu Al-Naja addressed the rally earlier saying that their attendance "affirms the Palestinian people's loyalty to Yasser Arafat and to the spirits of martyrs."

Fateh leader Ahmed Hillis, who is also member of the movement's revolutionary council, told the crowd: "You affirm today that Gaza Strip will remain Fateh's stronghold and will not be torched by the mutineers."

Hamas leaders also paid tribute to the leader of the Palestinian struggle. "We honor and respect Yasser Arafat because he ... refused to give up the rights of our people in this holy land," Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum told the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz on Monday.

Large numbers of police affiliated with the Hamas-controlled de facto government were deployed in anticipation of the rally.

Two people were wounded when police broke up a Fateh rally in Al-Buraij refugee camp on Sunday night.

A similar festival was held in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday, on the third anniversary of Arafat's death.

The Fateh movement has been marginalized in the Gaza Strip since Hamas took control there in mid June. Fateh demonstrations in September were violently broken up by the Hamas-controlled Executive Force.

***Last updated 13:54 local time***

Haniyah renews calls for dialogues, says Hamas might hand over security forces

Date: 12 / 11 / 2007 Time: 13:43

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Palestinian Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyah, renwed calls for comprehensive dialogue with the rival Fatah party in order to resolve the deep political divisions in Palestinian society on Sunday.

In an unprecedented move, Haniyah suggested Hamas might hand over control of the security forces in the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority.

Haniyah's declaration came even as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned what he labeled a "coup" by Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip, where Haniayh and Hamas have held power since June.

Hamas has repeatedly called for dialogue since the June fighting, offering to hand over most government ministries in exchange for opening dialogue. Until now, Hamas has said it would maintain control of the security forces even if talks were resumed.

Speaking to the Hamas affiliated Al-Aqsa TV, Haniyah said, "We have been seriously considering all Palestinian, Arab and even European initiatives to resume nationalist dialogue, yet the Ramallah-based leadership has always refused all these initiatives."

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