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The clashes came at the funeral of Abu Yousef Abu Quka, who died when his car exploded in flames near a Gaza City mosque at the start of Friday prayers.

The Popular Resistance Committees militant group, of which Abu Quka was a commander, said an Israeli air strike was responsible for the death of their leader.

However, some of its members privately blamed local Fatah leaders, the Associated Press reported.

Clashes later broke out between members of the PRC and members of the large Fatah movement.

Hospital worker Bakr Abu-Safir said: "We have a big mess here."

The Israeli military, which has killed dozens of Palestinian militant leaders, denied any involvement in today's blast, telling Reuters: "It wasn't us."

Israel radio reported that Abu Quka had overseen numerous rocket attacks on Israel.

The militant Islamic group Hamas, which took charge of the Palestinian government on Wednesday, also blamed Israel for Abu Quka's death.

Mahmoud Zahar, the Hamas foreign minister, said the killing "justifies the process of self-defence to stop the Israeli aggression by all means".

Hamas, which won Palestinian elections in January, refuses to recognise Israel or renounce violence.

Today's blast followed a suicide bombing that killed four Israelis in the West Bank.

The attack, by a man dressed as an Orthodox Jew who hitched a ride in a car, was claimed by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, a group linked to Fatah.

It was the first suicide attack by a Fatah affiliate since a truce in February 2005.

Some observers suggest the attack may be linked to Ehud Olmert's victory in Israel's general election on Tuesday.

With Mr Olmert planning to withdraw from much of the West Bank, and the long-ruling Fatah out of power, Al-Aqsa might want to revive Fatah's credibility by creating the impression that Israel is retreating under fire.

The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the suicide attack, but Hamas defended it as "resistance" against Israeli "crimes".

IHT, AP wrote this

Explosion kills Palestinian militant amid spreading violence

The Israeli Yedioth Achronoth this

3 killed in Gaza riots  

Al Jazeera wrote this

Violence erupts in Gaza after killing 

...and finally the Israeli Haaretz reported yesterday this

Hamas pledges to remove arms from streets of Gaza