Take one dead terrorist who died after his predilection for gay sex caught up with him, add 250,000 terrorists and terror supporters commemorating his death, add rival trigger-happy terrorists, and allow to simmer.
Those are the ingredients for the latest palestinian bloodbath.
Hamas security forces opened fire Monday during a mass memorial service for the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and at least six people were killedand 85 wounded in the ensuing violence.
Some 85 were wounded in the violence, three of which are in serious condition, including a Hamas policeman who was shot in the head.
Palestinian Authority television, broadcasting from the West Bank, said eight people were killed in the violence, but only published the names of six of them.
According to Hamas, one of those killed was one of its members, shot by Fatah snipers on nearby rooftops. Fatah on the other hand said the man was one of its members, shot from a passing car while on his way to the rally.
The rally was the the largest show of force by the rival Fatah movement since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, and the deadliest showdown in Gaza since the Hamas takeover.
More than 250,000 Fatah supporters joined Monday’s rally in a major square of Gaza City. As shots were fired, protesters scrambled for cover and masked Hamas security men ran through the city streets firing weapons.
Bodyguards of senior Fatah officials were seen covering their bosses and dragging them out of the rally grounds.
Two hours later, hundreds of Hamas gunmen were in control of the protest site. Hundreds of protesters were still in the area, trying to get out. Hamas men were seen arresting protesters, and sporadic gunfire could be heard.
An eyewitness, identifying himself as Abu Samir, said Hamas security men appeared to fire unprovoked. “I saw brutality. I saw gunmen shoot at people. I saw them catch a boy and beat him with a stick, he said.”
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ office denounced Hamas’ actions as a “heinous crime.”
I assume Saeb Erekat did not call this a “massacre” since he was too busy refusing to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state.
Of course, being the civilized ones with whom Israel can negotiate peace, Fatah responded with calls for law and order to be restored, and the killers to be brought to justice.
Just kidding.
Fatah leaders in the West Bank were outraged at the deaths, calling on Fatah-affiliated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to avenge the killings.
Mohammad Dahlan, Fatah’s former Gaza Strip strongman, who was overthrown by Hamas fighters in June, called for revenge.
He told Palestine TV, “Victory over those killers will be very soon through such rallies and gatherings as what we have seen today.” He also pledged not to forget “the martyrs’ blood.”
