Rival Palestinian factions traded fire in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday and at least five Hamas members were injured, Hamas officials said. The latest violence was triggered by the abductions overnight of five Hamas activists -- four from Hamas' armed wing and one from the "Executive Force".
Fatah said the gunmen were seized for questioning because they were suspected of planning attacks. According to Reuters, the five were freed hours later but their vehicles came under fire as they left the scene. At least two of them were injured.
Hamas said three members of Hamas' "Executive Force" were also hurt on Tuesday when Fatah gunmen fired a rocket-propelled grenade at their car. Fatah denied any role in the shootings and accused Hamas of stockpiling weapons to fight Fatah and other Palestinian opponents.
Abdel-Hakim Awad, a Fatah spokesman in Gaza, called for the disbanding of the "Executive Force", which Hamas has vowed to expand to 12,000 members.
