Fatah's flight to Israel

On Sunday July 3 a desperate group of 180 fighters from a Fatah clan fled from Gaza and sought refuge in Israel after suffering attacks by their fellow Palestinians of the Hamas movement. Because their lives were in danger, Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah leader, made a special plea and the Israel Defence Force took the unprecediented step of allowing Fatah supporters to enter its territory. Hamas, who took control of Gaza after winning an election last year, has carried out a series of brutal raids on Fatah strongholds over the weekend which left 11 dead. The refugees are believed to be from the Hilles Clan, a large family in Gaza loyal to Abbas. The Fatah men, who laid down their weapons as they approached to Nahal Oz Crossing and were stipped and handcuffed after entering Israel, were originally due to be sent back into Gaza immediately after Israeli doctors treated their injuries. However, after initially sending 30 of the Palestinians back, the Israeli military received information that the group had been captured by Hamas gunmen, and that "their lives were in immediate danger". As a result the remaining 150 refugees were kept from returning to Gaza. Israels's decision to hold on to the Fatah fighters will anger Abbas, who has asked for the men to be returned to Gaza as soon as possible. Abbas told the Israeli military the men were needed to allow Fatah to retain a military prescence in the region