According to reports from Hamas-controlled Gaza on motzei Shabbos, at least 4 people are dead and 80 injured following a Hamas raid of a Fatah stronghold aligned with the Hilles clan, which is headed by former Gaza Tanzim leader Ahmed Hilles. Included among the injured in the Gaza City fighting according to various reports are at least 12 children. Apparently, the raid follows the recent explosion in Gaza that killed five Hamas terrorists and a girl. Hamas is blaming the Hilles clan for the deadly blast.

Fighting between rival terror factions seems to be increasing and Israeli intelligence officials are carefully monitoring the situation, which has led to the firing of eight mortar shells on motzei Shabbos. Three of the shells landed in southern Israel. No injuries were reported. The remainder appears to have fallen short of its intended target, in northern Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Not wasting the opportunity to point a finger of blame at Israel, senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouq released as statement on Saturday that if Israel does not comply with the ceasefire, one cannot expect the rival Gaza factions to comply. He added that Hamas however remains committed to the ceasefire. 

Israeli officials fear the escalation in rival fighting will lead to the collapse the fragile ceasefire, which has been officially ongoing for 46 days. There have been numerous violations, but there have been considerably less rocket and mortar shell attacks than during the weeks preceding the ceasefire.

Magen David Adam, Israel’s emergency medical service provider, on Shabbos moved to a level 2 state of readiness. Three wounded Gaza residents were transported to the trauma unit of Beersheva’s Soroka Medical Center, reportedly all in serious condition.

Israel has announced it is permitting 150 Fatah-aligned Gazans into PA (Palestinian Authority) autonomous areas throughout Yehuda and Shomron. Reports indicate that family members of the Hilles clan are included in that number, with some sources stating that Ahmed Hilles is also included, but this is not being verified by official Fatah sources in Ramallah. (Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)