Five killed in Fatah-Hamas clashes in Gaza

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GAZA CITY, Jan 1 (AFP): At least five Palestinians were killed and around 40 wounded in armed clashes on Monday between Fatah loyalists and Hamas police in the south of the Islamist-ruled Gaza Strip, medical sources said.
A 12-year-old boy, two other civilians and a member of the Hamas police were killed in exchanges of gunfire during a rally east of the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis, the sources said.
Hamas police spokesman Islam Shahwan told AFP that the rally marking 43 years since the founding of the secular Fatah movement had turned into a "gunbattle".
"Police tried to disperse a small Fatah demonstration in Khan Yunis that turned into a gunbattle when gunmen opened fire on the police force," he said.
"Three people were killed and several were injured, including several police members," the police spokesman added.
Around 40 people were wounded in the clashes in the densely populated territory where the Islamist movement seized power last June, routing Fatah forces loyal to president Mahmud Abbas.