Saudi prince on Palestinian violence

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 17 (UPI) -- Fighting between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza has left at least 47 people dead, the Ministry of Health reported Thursday.

Another 210 people were wounded in the factional fighting, WAFA reported.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told Time magazine he delivered a "stern" message to Palestinian leaders on behalf of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud.

The Saudi monarch said he is holding Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and Hamas exile chief Khaled Meshaal "firmly to the commitment they made in the eyes of God."

Saudi Arabia mediated an accord between Hamas and Fatah that led to the creation of a Palestinian unification government and has been promoting a peace plan between the Palestinians and Israel.

Prince Saud told Time that the "senseless" Palestinian infighting is threatening the peace plan.

"If fighting continues, and spreads, and the government falls, then that would be catastrophic for the cause of peace," Prince Saud said.