Fifth Palestinian truce in 5 days breaks down Thursday when Hamas member is gunned down

DEBKAfile Intelligence

May 17, 2007

Hamas says a masked fighter of the rival Fatah carried out the attack. Fatah accused Hamas of abducting five of its adherents.

Most of the 40 fighters killed in four days of battles belong to Fatah and Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority security services which it dominates. All the previous truces have collapsed before they took effect. Wednesday, Hamas gunmen killed five of their own fighters by mistake when they hit a Fatah van carrying Hamas prisoners. Earlier, they killed five bodyguards barricaded in residence of Fatah leader Rashid Abu Shbak.