Another tenuous cease-fire in Gaza

As a tenuous cease-fire took hold in the Gaza Strip on Jan. 30, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh appealed to all Palestinians to prevent a resurgence of factional violence that killed 36 people in recent days. The supposed cease-fire notwithstanding, a Hamas gunman was killed in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis–a shooting officials from the Islamic group blamed on militants from rival Fatah. Previous truces between Hamas and Fatah militants in the tense Gaza Strip have quickly collapsed, and it appeared unlikely the two sides would comply with all the terms of the current agreement, such as handing over those involved in killings and abductions. In the past, Hamas and Fatah gunmen used lulls to prepare for more fighting. But Haniyeh called for a total halt to the violence. "Either we maintain this calm," he said, "or everything collapses again, and then everyone will be held responsible." Fatah spokesman Maher Mekdad said his group would observe the agreement. "Despite all the bitterness and sadness that we are feeling, we will work to make it succeed," he said. Hamas and Fatah have been at odds since Hamas defeated Fatah in legislative elections a year ago. President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, who was elected separately two years ago, outraged the democratically elected Hamas by relentlessly insisting early elections be held. Hamas has likened this move as a US-backed "coup attempt." On Jan. 28, both sides agreed to attend negotiation meetings in Mecca after an invitation by Saudi Arabia, but no date was set. The uneasy truce follows a series of tit-for-tat attacks and abductions by both sides. In recent days, gunmen loyal to Hamas kidnapped and later released Brigadier General Sayyed Shabban, the head of Fatah's National Security Forces. Shabban is believed to be the most senior official from either side to have been abducted so far. Unknown gunmen also kidnapped two teenage children of a Fatah colonel and threatened to kill them unless all Hamas abductees were released. Two top Hamas commanders including senior militant Ashraf Ferwana, a senior Fatah intelligence officer and a Fatah municipal official were also taken captive. Ferwana and the Fatah intelligence officer were later released.