Palestinian Civil War Heats Up in Gaza
Gaza situation tests Abbas' power to bring law and order Posted 10/12/2005 10:23 PM GAZA CITY — A spike in fighting between the extremist Hamas group and Palestinian security forces — and new battles with Israel — in the month since Israel pulled its troops and settlers from Gaza is tempering hope that self-rule will bring peace to the territory and eventually the region. .................... After a half-hour gunbattle with dozens of Arafat's bodyguards, the masked militants stormed the house. They dragged out the former Gaza security chief — a cousin of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat — and shot him dead.Predictable.