Palestinian gunmen fatally ambushed a Hamas-linked judge and terrorist commander outside of a courthouse early today, escalating tensions in Gaza. The shooting came two days after the killing of the three young children of a Fatah-allied Palestinian intelligence officer, which sparked fresh conflict between Hamas and Fatah.
Palestinian security officials said the slain man was Bassam al-Fara, 30, a jurist at the Islamic court and a Hamas commander who belongs to the largest clan in the southern town of Khan Younis. In a statement faxed to reporters, Hamas openly accused what it called a Fatah "death squad" in al-Fara's killing.
"This is an ugly crime committed against one of the field commanders of Hamas' military wing and one of the prominent figures in Hamas," Barhoum said. "The fingers that shot him are the same fingers that were involved in the killing of previous Hamas leaders. Hamas is not going to forget the blood of its members. It is going to pursue and bring those who were involved in today's crime to justice."
Fatah spokesman Tawfik Abu Khoussa rejected the accusations. "We condemn all acts of anarchy, whatever may be behind them. We call on the brothers in Hamas to stop firing accusations before the investigation," he said.
Witnesses to the shooting said the four gunmen calmly ate breakfast at a food stand as they waited for al-Fara outside the courthouse. When al-Fara emerged from a taxi, three of the men grabbed him and forced him onto his knees, while the fourth pulled out a weapon and shot him. The attack left the sidewalk riddled with bullet holes.
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