At least 11 people were killed on Tuesday when Hamas-run security forces clashed with a pro-al Qaeda gunmen belonging to a local family in Gaza City, Palestinian security officials said. Seven people were also wounded in the fighting.
Hamas forces, responding to the killing of one of their policemen during an arrest raid on Monday, raided a clan stronghold in Gaza City before dawn on Tuesday in search of suspects, officials said. Several clan members were killed in ensuing clashes that went on for hours and continued into Tuesday morning, while others were placed under arrest, Hamas officials said.
At least three of those killed were gunmen, officials said. A Hamas source said one was a member of the Army of Islam, a pro-al Qaeda group. At least one Hamas policeman was also shot dead in the fighting, an official said.
The Hamas-controlled interior ministry said in a statement its security forces resorted to force against "fugitives", including the Doghmosh clan only "after exhausting all peaceful efforts" to arrest suspects. Police said they seized explosives and weapons during the raid.
