A clash between Hamas security forces and members of a large Gaza clan affiliated with Fatah party left four people dead on Wednesday, a Hamas official said. Two of the dead were Hamas security officers and two were from the Hiles clan. More than 20 people were injured from both sides, said Ihab al-Ghusain, a spokesman for the Hamas security forces.
The violence erupted when clan members opened fire at the security forces, al-Ghusain said, according to the AP. The force later arrested a number of "outlaws" who were on their way to send reinforcements to the clan, he added.
A Fatah official said Hamas security forces were trying to confiscate a car that belonged to a clan member. Locals said rocket propelled grenades and heavy machine guns were used in the fighting.
Hamas forces closed off the neighborhood of al-Shojaiyah east of Gaza City to arrest wanted members of the clan.
