A tense quiet settled over the areas in the afternoon after security forces loyal to PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas clubbed Hamas terrorist organization supporters in Ramallah, where Hamas tried to stage a rally.
In Gaza, shooting broke out before a similar demonstration in which Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya later told the rally of 100,000 supporters, "What a war, Mahmoud Abbas, you are launching, first against God, and then against Hamas."
The fighting came less than 24 hours after an attempted assassination of PA prime minister Ismail Haniyeh as his convoy crossed from Egypt through Rafiah. Haniyeh's bodyguard was killed in the attack by Fatah forces. Abbas later said he regretted the incident and would launch an investigation.
Hamas warned it would take revenge. PA foreign minister and Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar declared, "We know who opened fire (on Haniyeh's convoy) and they will be punished hard. From now on they will never relax and they will never sleep tight in their home."
Hamas accused Gaza strongman Mohamed Dahlan of being behind the attack, and a street battle Friday afternoon took place near his home.
The violence in Ramallah followed afternoon prayers in the city's mosque, where Hamas gunmen took refuge during the gun battle. Fatah claimed that its forces disrupted the rally because Hamas had not received a permit for the demonstration.
Fatah declared the area a closed military zone and used clubs and rifles to beat the Hamas supporters. Hospital sources said several people were critically wounded, and Voice of Israel government radio interviewed one PA official in Ramallah, who said at least one was killed.
In Gaza, shooting broke out before a similar demonstration in which Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya later told the rally of 100,000 supporters, "What a war, Mahmoud Abbas, you are launching, first against God, and then against Hamas."
The fighting came less than 24 hours after an attempted assassination of PA prime minister Ismail Haniyeh as his convoy crossed from Egypt through Rafiah. Haniyeh's bodyguard was killed in the attack by Fatah forces. Abbas later said he regretted the incident and would launch an investigation.
Hamas warned it would take revenge. PA foreign minister and Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahar declared, "We know who opened fire (on Haniyeh's convoy) and they will be punished hard. From now on they will never relax and they will never sleep tight in their home."
Hamas accused Gaza strongman Mohamed Dahlan of being behind the attack, and a street battle Friday afternoon took place near his home.
The violence in Ramallah followed afternoon prayers in the city's mosque, where Hamas gunmen took refuge during the gun battle. Fatah claimed that its forces disrupted the rally because Hamas had not received a permit for the demonstration.
Fatah declared the area a closed military zone and used clubs and rifles to beat the Hamas supporters. Hospital sources said several people were critically wounded, and Voice of Israel government radio interviewed one PA official in Ramallah, who said at least one was killed.