By Xinhua
Gaza : Cautious calmness returned to Gaza Strip on Sunday morning after factional clashes erupted in different parts of the enclave claimed several lives.
In southern Gaza town of Rafah, clashes between Hamas and the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) quieted down after leaving one woman dead, 17 others wounded and more than 15 kidnapped.
The two groups issued a joint statement saying that the two factions have reached a deal to withdraw gunmen from the streets and free kidnapped members of the two sides.
The reasons behind the violence are still unknown, but the two groups announced the formation of a committee to “study the reasons and handle them in a way that maintains the depth of the relation between the two movements.”
In eastern Gaza City, the tension are cooling down after four days of armed clashes between Hamas police force and a powerful clan that have gunned down six people.
The Interior Ministry of Hamas administration said it has reached an agreement with the Helles family to stop the fighting after the efforts exerted by various mediators.
According to the agreement, Helles clan should remove roadblocks in the Sheja’eya neighborhood and to obligate not to open fire at any member of Hamas police. The family has also to hand over any one suspected of shooting.
The ministry of interior said the problem escalated when members of Helles family, affiliated with rival Fatah movement, refused to hand over cars and weapons belong to the former security services, which were expelled from the Gaza enclave in mid-June clashes.
Since then, the Gaza Strip has been in the grip of Hamas and disobedient to the West Bank, where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sits.