Posted on 01/20/2009 2:37:39 PM PST by Lorianne
Israeli troops marched home Monday but there was no end to the bloodshed in Gaza as Hamas began carrying out vicious reprisals against suspected collaborators.
Members of the rival Fatah party said dozens of their men were executed by Hamas, allegedly for helping Israel target Hamas, and several were being tortured.
Three Fatah men had their eyes put out during "interrogation" by Hamas thugs and as many as 80 Fatah members were either shot in the legs or had their hands broken for defying Hamas' house-arrest orders.
"What's happening in the Gaza Strip is a new massacre that is being carried out by Hamas against Fatah," said a Fatah activist in Gaza City. "Where were these cowards when the Israeli Army was here?"
Israeli troops and tanks that poured into Gaza Jan. 3 were in full retreat. Officials told the Haaretz newspaper that they aimed to have every soldier out by Barack Obama's inauguration at noon Tuesday.
Obama and incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have signaled they plan a hands-on Middle East policy. The Bush administration, until recent years, has been largely hands off.
Internal Palestinian schisms are certain to complicate matters for the new administration.
Hamas and Fatah have been bitter rivals since June 2007, when Hamas launched a bloody coup against the government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, killing about 400 Fatah supporters and maiming many others.
The issue of collaboration is urgent in Gaza because Israel was able to pinpoint the secret locations of many Hamas homes and offices - suggesting the use of high-level informants.
Hamas repeatedly accused Abbas and his men of backing the three-week Israeli assault on Gaza that ended Sunday.
Hamas legislator Salah Bardaweel said Fatah "spies" helped Israel to assassinate Hamas security chief Said Siam, who was killed in a missile strike on his brother's home last week.
Bardaweel said informants reported directly to Abbas' office in the West Bank.
Fatah's paramilitary wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, distributed leaflets begging Hamas to "respect the blood of the Palestinian martyrs" and leave Fatah members alone.
A Fatah official told the Jerusalem Post that Hamas' failure to stand up to Israel's assault on Gaza is fueling their intramural fury.
"They were afraid to confront the Israeli Army and many Hamas militiamen even ran away during the fighting," he said. "Hamas is now venting its anger and frustration against our Fatah members there."
Gaza residents said Hamas had commandeered schools and other public buildings as temporary detention centers, where prisoners were being systematically tortured.
At the start of the Israeli bombing campaign, several Fatah prisoners taken to the Shifa Hospital in Gaza were executed as they lay in their beds.
Relatives of Abed al-Gharabli, a Fatah security officer who spent 12 years in an Israeli prison, said he was kidnapped by a group of Hamas militiamen who shot him in both legs after severely torturing him.
Don’t worry - I’m sure the UN will get right on this and start denouncing this awful violation of human rights. /s
This can’t be true. Everybody knows the only people denying human rights are the Israelis!
These are the people Israel is supposed to negotiate with.
Anyone who tells you Israel is the problem is a fool.
Be that as it may; Hamas didn't put panties on their heads of the Fatah men, nor did they keep them up late at night answering questions. Therefore, there was no torture. /s
Where are the cries about a humanitarian crisis?
If Israeli soldiers were doing this, the UN would be in round the clock session spewing out resolutions.
Hmmm. Nothing on this on al-CNN, al-ABC et al. Just how many killed and the big destruction by the Juice...
(Matthew 25:31-36, 40-43, 45-46 NRSV)
But they do blow up Pizza Parlors and fire unaimed rockets into civilian populations.
Such cowards.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
----------------------------
At least they didn't waterboard them or put underwear over their heads...
What’s this about Israel being in retreat? They chose to withdraw. Not the same thing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.