GAZA CITY: A series of bombs in Gaza yesterday targeting the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas triggered a bitter new spat with rivals Hamas in a blow to reconciliation efforts.
At least 10 blasts hit the homes and cars of several Fatah officials, triggering a furious response from the party which placed the blame squarely on Hamas, the de facto rulers in Gaza. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the early morning bombs.
Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who had been due to visit Gaza today with new EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, cancelled his trip.
One of the explosions targeted a stage in western Gaza City set up for a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary on Tuesday of the death of veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who founded Fatah. Israel’s Prime Minister blamed ‘militant Islamic incitement’ for growing tensions in Jerusalem, especially at a contested holy site that was ringed yesterday by hundreds of Israeli riot police as about 15,000 Muslims performed weekly prayers there.
