GAZA, May 18 (UPI) -- The Hamas-led Palestinian government asserted that the mission of a special security force set up by the interior ministry is to back existing security forces.
Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said in Gaza Thursday that the force was formed within the framework of security forces, stressing that "the internal situation necessitates imposing the law and putting an end to prevailing disorder."
Speaking to dozens of security members who gathered outside his office in Gaza to express support for the government, Haniyeh said, "members of the new force are members of the Palestinian resistance who have been resisting Israeli occupation, and are now working to protect Palestinian security."
A conflict between Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement took a dangerous turn earlier this week when Interior Minister Said Siyam deployed the special force in Gaza, grouping gunmen from various Palestinian factions, after expressing mistrust in the ability of Palestinian Authority security agencies to instill order.
Amid growing tensions between the two groups, Fatah gunmen intercepted earlier Thursday the convoy of Deputy Prime Minister Nassereddine Shaer.
Witnesses said gunmen from Fatah's al-Aqsa Brigades opened fire in the air outside the government building of the West Bank city of Tulkarem to prevent Shaer, who is also minister of education, from inspecting the premises.
They also tried to obstruct his convoy from approaching the building, but the minister decided to go on with his inspection as scheduled.
Amid the growing confusion, the Higher Follow-up Committee of National and Islamic Forces called for removing all gunmen from the streets and barring armed manifestations to ease tensions.
The committee issued a statement after an emergency meeting -- which was not attended by Hamas -- in Gaza late Wednesday night warning against the consequences of fuelling conflicts.
