Hamas and Israel in border clashes
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
March 21, 2011 - 12:00am

Palestinian militants fired a rocket into southern Israel yesterday, while Israeli troops killed two Palestinians along the volatile border with Gaza. It came a day after Palestinian militants fired about 50 mortar bombs into Israel – the heaviest assault since an Israeli offensive two years ago. Both Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel have largely honoured an informal ceasefire since the 2009 war. The Hamas-allied Popular Resistance Committees claimed responsibility for yesterday's rocket attack. No one was hurt.

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News Analysis: Latest Hamas Rocket attack on Israel a political statement: observers
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Adam Gonn - March 20, 2011 - 12:00am

Islamic Hamas movement claimed responsibility for the Saturday mortar attack into southern Israel, to which the latter retaliated with air strikes on what the army said were military targets. The Palestinian attacks came a few days after Palestinian National Authority President and Fatah head Mahmoud Abbas said that he would travel to Gaza for reconciliation talks with Hamas. Local analysts view the Palestinian mortar barrage as part of an internal political standoff ahead of Abbas' visit.

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Mortar Fire From Hamas, and Israeli Tanks Respond
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Isabel Kershner - March 19, 2011 - 12:00am

Hamas militants fired dozens of mortar shells from Gaza into southern Israel during a 15-minute period on Saturday morning, slightly injuring two Israeli civilians and sharply escalating tensions along the Israel-Gaza border. The Israeli military responded to the unusually intense barrage with tank and helicopter fire. Gaza officials reported that five Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire directed at a Hamas security facility east of Gaza City, including three security officers and two civilians, one of them a child.

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Hamas fires dozens of mortars at Israel
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Associated Press
by Ian Deitch - March 19, 2011 - 12:00am

Palestinian militants in Gaza fired more than 50 mortar shells into Israel on Saturday, the heaviest barrage in two years, Israeli officials said, raising the prospect of a new Mideast flareup. Also Saturday, Hamas police beat reporters and news photographers covering a rally in Gaza City, drawing a stiff condemnation from the reporters' association.

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Gaza protesters leave UN compound
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Agence France Presse (AFP)
March 18, 2011 - 12:00am

Sixteen protesters who took refuge in a UN compound in Gaza on Thursday to flee from Hamas police left the premises and called off a planned hunger strike, a UN official said. "They all left. The authorities in Gaza gave assurances that they will be safe," said Chris Gunness, spokesman for the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Two hours earlier, one of the demonstrators said the groups planned to stage an indefinite hunger strike to demand an end to Palestinian divisions and reconciliation between rival factions.

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Gaza groups call on Hamas to probe attacks on peaceful rallies
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
March 17, 2011 - 12:00am

Gaza-based rights groups on Wednesday called on Islamic Hamas movement's government that rules the Gaza Strip to probe its police's violent attacks against peaceful rallies in Gaza on Tuesday. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank had witnessed on Tuesday massive popular rallies that called on Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah party to end their internal division and reach a reconciliation agreement.

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Gaza: Police Detain Protester and 2 Cameramen
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
March 17, 2011 - 12:00am

The Hamas police in Gaza detained a Palestinian protester and two Palestinian cameramen on Thursday while breaking up a rally calling for political reconciliation. About 40 activists had gathered in front of a United Nations school, waving flags and chanting slogans for unity between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions.


Abbas 'ready to travel to Gaza' for unity
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
March 16, 2011 - 12:00am

President Mahmoud Abbas says he is ready to visit the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip in an effort to promote reconciliation between his Fatah party and Hamas Abbas also said he was ready to postpone the formation of a cabinet in order to give Hamas a chance to join a unity government. "I am ready to delay the formation of the new government to give Hamas a chance to join," he said in a speech at the start of a two-day meeting of the PLO Central Committee, a PLO legislative body of 130 members in which Hamas holds the majority.

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Demonstrators, Security Forces Face Off in Gaza, Leaving One Dead
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Media Line
by Omar Ghraieb - March 16, 2011 - 12:00am

In a move reminiscent of early days of revolution in Cairo and Tunis, Hamas unleashed its security forces over the last two days to disperse thousands of protesters gathered to urge unity between Hamas and Fatah and ensure they don’t launch new demonstrations. At least one person, Baha Al-Ejleh, was reported beaten to death on Wednesday and another 30 were injured in clashes at Gaza Strip’s Al-Azhar University.

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Hamas Forces Break Up Pro-Unity Protests in Gaza
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Fares Akram - March 15, 2011 - 12:00am

Mass protests in Gaza on Tuesday were violently broken up by Hamas police officers and security officers, many in plainclothes, witnesses said. The demonstrations, organized by independent Palestinian youth activists, called for national unity. At least five people, including three local journalists, were treated at a hospital after being beaten at the demonstration, employees at the hospital said.

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