Gaza update

What is happening in Gaza? Here's the best summary of the most recent, tragic events which I've reproduced below in full:

by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli warplanes bombarded Wednesday a building, belonging to the executive force of Hamas, formed by the former interior minister, Saed Siyam of Hamas, killing three executive force members and wounding 30 others.

illustration photo

Local hospital sources confirmed that three people were killed and 30 others wounded in a deadly Israeli attack on a building in Rafah city.

The sources identified at least one of the killed as Najeh Abu Sakher, as the remaining two remain unknown.

Witnesses said that the building, close to Palestinian Authority's forces compound, has been completely destroyed due to the shelling Israeli shelling.

Hundreds of locals headed for the Abu Yousef Alnajjar hospital, as some of them donated blood, witnesses added.

Crowds of Rafah chanted slogans against underway Hamas-Fatah infghting in Gaza, calling upn the rival parties to halt their bloody shootouts.

The Israeli army attack on Rafah had further complicated an already deteriorated situation, as a barrage of homemade shells have been fired on nearby Israeli town since yesterday evening.

This attack comes amidst fierce street gun battles between the rival Hamas and Fatah since Friday in Gaza, where at least 30 Palestinians have been killed and more than 60 others injured.

Witnesses said that masked gunmen drag people out of the cars and check their identities, while some of those checked are taken hostages.

Witnesses added that streets are vacated of passersby as shops, institutions and stores are closed, while the population is locked down in their houses for fear of being attacked or harmed.

In addition, masked gunmen broke into residential buildings and began searching apartments, forcing tens of families to seek safe heavens in downstairs.

Current infighting in Gaza is the deadliest since the two factions agreed to a national unity government in March, in a bid to lift the internationally- imposed siege as well as months of clashes that have claimed the lives of at least 150 people.

Despite repeated ceasefire agreements, the latest was late on Tuesday night, both parties' gunmen are spread widely in streets, while shootouts are audible in different parts of the 450,000-populated city.

In the meantime, Palestinian deputy-PM of Fatah, Azzam Al-Ahmad, called on President Mahmoud Abbas to declare a state of emergency in order to contain the increasing violence.

Some Fatah MPs voiced the same position, while the chief of Rafah police department resigned due to the uncontrollable situation.

The Palestinian monetary authority ordered closure of local banks for the same reason.

The deteriorated security situation across the Gaza Strip has doubled the populations’ hardship amidst a crippling economic embargo; the international Quartet has imposed on a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority since last March.

The Quartet (United States, United Nations, European Union, Russia) has demanded the Hamas-Fatah coalition government to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept past signed agreements with Israel before it wins recognition.