Palestinians attempt to bring end to violence
Palestinians were set to begin a national dialogue today in an attempt to bring an end to weeks of spiralling violence that has killed 10 people, including a senior Fatah security commander, and threatens to plummet into civil war.
The violence, concentrated mostly in the Gaza Strip, results from an intense struggle for control of the security forces.
The power struggle intensified after the Hamas militant group won a January parliamentary election, ousting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah Party from power.
However, Abbas, who was elected separately, remains president and wields significant powers.
Many of the official Palestinian security forces are loyal to Abbas, and Hamas has formed its own militias due to Abbas’ refusal to hand them security control.
Bomb blasts and gun battles have killed people on both sides, and the rival security arms stand off tensely in Gaza’s streets.
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