The fighting throughout the day sent schoolchildren and other civilians in downtown Gaza City fleeing for cover.
``This is forbidden in Islam; we are in the holy month of Ramadan," said Majed Badawi, 33, whose car was caught in the crossfire. ``It's a shame on Hamas, who call themselves real Muslims, and a shame of Fatah, as well. Why are they fighting and over what?"
Violence between Fatah and Hamas loyalists plagued Gaza throughout the spring, but largely disappeared when Israel launched an offensive in Gaza in late June after Hamas-linked militants captured an Israeli soldier.
Israel's army chief, Lieutenant General Dan Halutz, said yesterday that the military was considering another ground offensive. Hours later, Israeli tanks, bulldozers, and troops moved into northern Gaza. The army said the operation was aimed at preventing rocket fire from militants.
The Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, urged Palestinians to end the internal violence ``in the face of a serious escalation from the occupation forces." Haniyeh spoke with President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah by telephone and called for joint action to end the fighting, Haniyeh's office said. But in a televised speech, Haniyeh also defended the Hamas militiamen, saying they acted lawfully in trying to break up the protests.
Fatah officials blamed Hamas for the chaos. ``Nothing can justify this violence," Fatah spokesman Tawfik Abu Khoussa said.
The fighting started in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, where dozens of police gathered to demand back wages, protesters said. The Hamas militiamen ordered them to disperse, then opened fire at the protesters, who responded by shooting in the air, protesters said.
Fighting then broke out between militia members and security officials in northern Gaza, and violence spread to the parliament building in Gaza City, where security officers and civil servants were protesting. The protesters threw stones at nearby Hamas militiamen, who eventually responded by firing on the protesters.
In response to the violence, Fatah protesters in the West Bank city of Ramallah broke into the Cabinet building and lit the second floor on fire. A second building also was set ablaze. A fire also broke out in Hamas offices in Hebron.
