The Islamic Hamas movement on Sunday called for Palestinians, who fled heavy fighting with Hamas to Israel, to return to the Gaza Strip, and promised not to arrest those proved to be unwanted.
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Israeli soldiers examine members of the pro-Fatah movement Helles clan in the Nahal Oz border crossing between Gaza and Israel August 2, 2008. Over 150 Helles clan members were allowed into Israel through the Erez and Nahal Oz border crossings who fled the Gaza Strip after a day of clashes with the ruling Hamas faction on Saturday.[Xinhua Photo/Rafael Ben-Ari] |
"All those who are irrelevant to acts shaking the security will be immediately released and returned to their families and houses," if they come back to Gaza, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
Up to 188 Palestinians, most of them from a pro-Fatah clan, took refugee in Israel on Saturday as Hamas forces attacked the Helles family's stronghold in eastern Gaza city.
Hamas accused the family of harboring suspects involved in July25 beachside blast in which a girl and five Hamas members were killed.
"Those who resorted to the Zionist occupation should not have done so, because this is their home and they should not have left it," Abu Zuhri said.
On Sunday morning, Israel returned 32 Palestinians who crossed into Israel for not having arrangement or for being involved in attacks against the Jewish state.
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An Israeli soldier examines members of the pro-Fatah movement Helles clan in the Nahal Oz border crossing between Gaza and Israel August 2, 2008. Over 150 Helles clan members were allowed into Israel through the Erez and Nahal Oz border crossings who fled the Gaza Strip after a day of clashes with the ruling Hamas faction on Saturday. [Xinhua Photo/Rafael Ben-Ari] |
Abu Zuhri said Hamas police forces "receive the returned people and treat them in a good way."
He said the security campaign, which ended Saturday with Hamas taking over the stronghold, did not target Helles family, but "some people who violated the law and used the clan as a shelter."
Nine Palestinians, including two Hamas policemen, were killed in Saturday's fighting and up to 100 were injured.
(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2008)
