GAZA: Shaky ceasefire takes effect between Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah after days of heavy fighting pushed the Gaza Strip to the brink of civil war

A shaky ceasefire took effect on Monday (December 18) between Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah after days of heavy fighting pushed the Gaza Strip to the brink of civil war. It was unclear whether the truce would last as groups of heavily armed gunmen from both Hamas and Fatah continued to roam the tense streets of the impoverished coastal strip. People already ventured back onto the streets after days of turmoil. Most were cautiously optimistic about the situation. "Honestly, we support this truce agreement and support it on the basis that daily life will go on, people can live in peace and stability instead of living in the middle of exchanges of gunfire," said Al-Azahar, a student in Gaza. "Thank god, yesterday at the same time, there was gunfire, we couldn't move from one place to the other. But today the situation is better after we heard that the factions have reached a deal, that Fatah and Hamas have reached an agreement. We hope that this agreement will pave the way forward for further negotiations and the return to the negotiation table," said another Gaza resident. "This is an important issue and the most important thing is to commit to this principle, and hope for the deployment of civilian police in the streets and the withdrawal and retreat of all sorts of armed groups and militants from the street to prevent further civilian casualties and internal strife," said another. Fighting escalated after President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah called on Saturday (December 16) for fresh presidential and parliamentary elections, a move intended to break political deadlock with the Hamas government and lift Western sanctions on its administration. There were sporadic exchanges of fire overnight, including an incident in which two members of a Hamas-led police force were wounded moments after the agreement was announced. Previous deals to end internal fighting this year have fallen apart. Forces loyal to Hamas and Fatah fought street and rooftop gun battles across Gaza on Sunday. Gunmen also fired mortars at Abbas's offices while his forces seized two Hamas ministries. Abbas was not in Gaza at the time. At least three people were killed and 20 wounded. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on a drive to revive Middle East peace negotiations, arrived in Israel just before Hamas and Fatah announced the deal on Sunday night. Blair will hold talks on Monday with Abbas in the occupied West Bank and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem.

ITN Source | December 18, 2006

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