Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a police station in the West Bank, sparking a gunfight that left three people wounded. It was the second serious clash between Palestinian authorities and armed groups this week.
The gunmen belonged to al Awda, a small group affiliated with Fatah movement. Representatives of the group said they acted in response to police attempts to arrest one of their members who was driving a stolen car. But a police spokesman told The AP the group was upset that one of its members had been beaten while in police custody.
Witnesses said at least 13 gunmen took up positions outside the police station on Friday afternoon and began shooting, prompting police to return fire. Hospital officials said three people were injured in the clash, one seriously.
Meanwhile, a blast rocked the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday, wounding four people, witnesses said. The Israeli army did not immediately comment.
