Fleeing Fatah fighters sent to West Bank
Dozens of Fatah fighters who fled Gaza are being sent to the West Bank because they face danger if returned to Gaza, Israel said today.
The announcement marks a reversal of a previous decision to have them returned to Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had ordered the nearly 200 fighters who fled a Hamas raid to return to Gaza from Israel, insisting that his forces must retain a presence in Gaza.
The first group of 32 were sent back to Gaza yesterday.
Hamas detained them upon arrival.
The return followed the bloodiest day of Hamas-Fatah fighting since the Hamas takeover last year.
In all, 11 people were killed and dozens wounded on Saturday.
The violence, some of the worst infighting Gaza has seen since Hamas seized control, forced the Palestinians to seek refuge in Israel – their long-time enemy.
Israel’s Defence Ministry said it halted the return of the Fatah men when it discovered “that their lives were in immediate danger.”
