Hamas to withdraw militia in Gaza (AP) Updated: 2006-06-07 22:57
The Hamas-led government agreed Wednesday to withdraw a controversial private
militia from public areas of Gaza in an agreement with the rival Fatah movement
aimed at halting weeks of bloody infighting.
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh of the Islamic group Hamas speaks to journalists after a visit to
a school in Gaza City Wednesday, June 7, 2006. Israeli defense officials
said Wednesday the army will strike activists of the ruling Hamas group
after its militants took part in rocket attacks on Israel in the past
week. [AP] |
The black-clad Hamas militia has been at the center of the power struggle.
"They are going to be in places away from the public. They are not going to
be visible to people," said government spokesman Ghazi Hamad. Under the
arrangement, the militia is to be folded into the official Palestinian police
force, he said.
The agreement came after hours of talks mediated by Egyptian diplomats and
joined by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas official.
Hamas also agreed to withdraw the 3,000-member force from public view last
week. But within days, the gunmen returned to their positions on the streets.
After Wednesday's deal was announced, the Hamas force remained in public view.
President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, has been in a power struggle with
Hamas since the Islamic group beat his party in legislative elections in
January. The feud has revolved around control of the security forces.
With most security forces loyal to Fatah, the Hamas government deployed its
private militia last month. Sixteen people have been killed in fighting between
the sides since the Hamas force was activated.
Abbas has said the Hamas force is illegal but said it could be folded into
existing security agencies.
"In this meeting, we agreed to remove all things that can lead to tensions in
the Palestinians streets," said Abdel Hakim Awad, a Fatah
spokesman.
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