Day After Ceasefire: One Murder, 20 Kidnappings
23:54 Dec 18, '06 / 27 Kislev 5767
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

Hamas and Fatah terrorists forces ran amok Monday, making mincemeat out of a ceasefire that went no further than media microphones. Gun battles still are raging in central and northern Gaza.

Hamas forces kidnapped and then released as a "gesture of good will" Sufian Abu Zaydeh, former Fatah minister of prisoner affairs for the Palestinian Authority (PA). Shortly after his release, Fatah terrorists, who back PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, abducted 11 Hamas fighters in revenge.

Hamas said it snatched Zaydeh in retaliation for the earlier kidnapping by Fatah of Hamas official Emad De'eb.

Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades spokesmen said that Hamas "broke all the rules" by abducting Zaydeh and that the action was "the reddest line that has been crossed" in the intra-Arab battles, which have threatened to fray still further the war-torn fabric of Gaza society as splinter terror groups continue to act independently of agreements forged by rival gangs.

Gunmen killed one Fatah security officer during the day, and the tally at this hour is one dead, 20 kidnapped, including those released, and at least a dozen wounded.

One of the abductees is the brother of Palestinian Authority Fatah legislator Ala'a Yaghi. French and Arab news agencies reported that five Fatah and four Hamas members were kidnapped, besides the 11 Hamas fighters abducted late Monday.

Most of Monday night's fighting took place in the area of Jabalya, in northern Gaza, but a gunfight also broke out near the homes of Fatah strongman Mohamed Dahlan in Gaza City, and mortar bombs were fired in the morning at Abbas' Gaza home.