By Xinhua
Gaza : Four Palestinians killed and 15wounded late on Wednesday night in clashes between one of Gaza City’s clans and the police of Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, medics and witnesses said.
Mo’aweya Hassanein, chief of emergency in the Palestinian ministry of health told reporters that two Hamas police officers and two members of Helles clan from eastern Gaza City were killed and 15 wounded from both sides.
Witnesses said fierce clashes erupted on Wednesday evening in the Sheja’eya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City between Helles clan’s gunmen and ruling Hamas police.
They added that heavy gunfire and explosions were heard in the neighborhood, while ambulances were carrying casualties from the neighborhood to Shiffa Hospital.
A Hamas interior ministry statement sent to reporters said the clashes began when a group from the Helles clan violated the traffic and fought with traffic police officers, adding they opened fire at Hamas police traffic.
The statement added that an agreement reached between the police and heads of the clan to handover those who violated the law and confiscate their guns.
“But when they refused to obey the law, our forces moved towards the neighborhood to detain them, and the Helles clan’s gunmen initiated the attack and opened fire at our forces,” said the statement.
It added that the police forces would deal strictly with anybody defy the law in the Gaza Strip.
It is the first fierce armed clashes of its kind between Helles clan’s gunmen, that most of them are members in the rival Fatah movement, and Hamas forces. Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip by force in mid June.