11 killed in clashes between Hamas and Gaza clan

JERUSALEM: At least 11 people, including a minor, were killed on Tuesday in fierce fighting between Hamas forces and members of a local powerful clan in the Gaza Strip.
 
Hamas, which took complete control over the Strip vanquishing forces loyal to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas last year, launched a massive armed operation against the Dogmush clan in the wee hours of Tuesday , shortly after a member of the clan killed a policeman.
 
"The fighting erupted after the clan refused to turn the man over to the security forces", Hamas spokesman Ihab al-Ghusain, said.
 
"We will not tolerate such violations and are determined to maintain law and order", al-Ghusain added.
 
Two bystanders, including a young boy, were among the dead in a pitched battle lasting more than nine hours.
 
Hamas sources said that the outfit lost one policeman during the operation.
 
The Islamic factions have been striving to eliminate armed factions in the Gaza Strip to consolidate its control of the Strip but has met with severe resistance from time to time from various factions and clans which ruled various parts of the Strip during PA rule.