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The HOLY LAND, a.k.a. Palestine, is preparing for the HOLYday season..

(freedom fighters fighting freedom fighters)

Right now, it's afternoon in the Holy Land, heavy gun battles are taking place in (at least) Gaza and Ramallah, following a week of attacks and assassinations inside the PA territories.

Just a short while ago Ynet (IL) reported following about the current situation there:

Ramallah has become a battlefield

Escalating tensions in Palestinian Authority deteriorate into gunbattles in streets – 20 people reported wounded. PA officials say gov't training special security force in West Bank

Civil war?

Twenty Palestinians were wounded, two critically, in exchanges of fire between warring factions in the Palestinian Authority Friday.

Sixteen people were wounded in Ramallah, four in Gaza. Fatah officials reported that several Hamas gunmen have barricaded themselves in the Nazer mosque in the city of Ramallah and are firing at Fatah and Palestinian security forces inside the mosque compound.
 

Witnesses added that PA security forces have begun covering their faces with masks as they try to overpower protestors and gunmen from both factions, mostly against Hamas.

The atmosphere in the city is reminiscent of a battlefield say residents, against the soundtrack of massive gunfire.

In Ramallah reports say that the Palestinian government has begun training a special security force in the West Bank which will answer directly to the government, similar to the one formed in Gaza which operates under the direct command of the minister of the interior.
 

Power struggle

According to a Fatah source it would appear that Hamas is seeking to emphasize that the movement also has power and presence in Ramallah – the largest West Bank city and home to President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Fatah official expressed concern that further deterioration of the situation will cost many lives.

Witnesses told Ynet that some of the wounded are bystanders and protestors who were beaten by Palestinian security forces seeking to clear the streets, primarily from the center of town which was declared a closed military zone.

Meanwhile in Gaza four Palestinians were wounded in exchanges of fire between Fatah gunmen and Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas.

The Fatah gunmen opened fire at a Hamas security forces outpost in central Gaza, the gunbattle continues.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3340493,00.html (now updated)

31 hurt in Fatah-Hamas clashes in Gaza, Ramallah (Haaretz, IL)

Hamas, Fatah Gunmen Exchange Fire in Gaza (AP)

32 wounded during Hamas-Fatah clashes in Ramallah (Jerusalem Post)

Hamas rally comes under Fatah fire (al Jazeera)

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C0D7201A-3736-4C50-A6CE-EDDC1F65CFA8.htm

More about the background of the current "crisis" please read here:

Fatah blamed for attack on PM (Guardian, UK)

High noon (Haaretz)

Latest news (12.16):

Hamas: Abbas declaration meaningless (Ynet)

Organization's officials say Palestinian president has no legal authority to dismantle government, although express willingness to return to negotiations

Senior Hamas officials were quick to reject the Saturday declaration by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announcing his intention to move up presidential and general elections in the Palestinian authority, calling the decision "meaningless".

According to Hamas leaders, Abbas has no legal authority to dismantle the government and, thus, his decision is illegal.

As such, Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar said that Hamas rejected Abbas' decision regarding elections, but said the organization is ready to return to the negotiating table.

Nonetheless, al-Zahar emphasized that a return to negotiations "would not be based on recognizing Israel or the demands of the Quartet."..

Please read the entire article here:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3340727,00.html 

Abbas moves up elections  

Abbas calls for elections in PA as soon as possible (Haaretz)

Gaza: Hundreds of Fatah members fire into air (12.16, 15:24 CET)

Hundreds of armed Fatah members and Palestinian defense personnel fired shots into the air throughout the streets of Gaza Saturday as a sign of solidarity with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ call for advancing elections.

Hamas, Fatah gunmen clash in Gaza (12.16, 17:22 CET)

Gunmen from the governing Hamas movement and the Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas exchanged fire in southern Gaza on Saturday, hours after the president called for early Palestinian elections.

One person had been wounded during the clash in Khan Younis, witnesses said. They said the combatants were mainly firing rocket-propelled grenades.

 

 

Gaza: 8 injured in exchanges of fire; officer kidnapped (12.16, 17:54 CET)

Eight people were injured in exchanges of fire taking place between Fatah and Hamas gunmen in the Gaza Strip. According to the report, five were injured in clashes in Rafah, two were injured in Khan Younis, and another person was injured in Gaza.

In addition, a Palestinian police officer was kidnapped by Hamas members in Gaza City, where thousands of people took to the streets, most of them Hamas activists.

 

 

Islamic Jihad, PFLP mediate between Hamas, Fatah (12.16, 18:18 CET)

 

The Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) began mediation Saturday between Hamas and Fatah in an attempt to try and end the exchange of fire between the two.

Witnesses in the Gaza Strip said a withdrawal of gunmen from sides in the Strip was observed in recent minutes. Nevertheless, there were still reports of tension in the streets.