THE LEADER OF THE ISLAMIC GROUP HAMAS IN SYRIA, KHALED MASHAAL, AND A LEADER IN THE PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION'S FATAH FACTION, FAROUK KADDOUMI, MADE AN "URGENT CALL" FOR CALM AMONG PALESTINIANS AFTER RENEWED CLASHES BETWEEN THE SUPPORTERS OF BOTH GROUPS IN THE GAZA STRIP, ACCORDING TO DPA. THE STATEMENT DELIVERED BY KADDOUMI ADVISOR ANWAR ABDUL-HADI FOLLOWING A MEETING WITH MASHAAL IN DAMASCUS. THE STATEMENT CALLED "FOR ALL SUPPORTERS OF FATAH AND HAMAS MOVEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK, GAZA AND EVERYWHERE, AIMING TO PRESERVE THE INTERESTS OF OUR PEOPLE AND ITS NATIONAL RIGHTS AND STRESSING THE NATIONAL UNITY TO CLOSE RANKS OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WITH ALL RESISTANCE FACTIONS WE CALL ALL TO COMMIT TO CALM AND LAW." FRICTION BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES HAS BEEN HEATING UP SINCE HAMAS ENDED FATAH'S FOUR-DECADE CONTROL OF PALESTINIAN POLITICS WITH A VICTORY IN JANUARY PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA, DPA REPORTED. NINE PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED IN THE SPORADIC GUN BATTLES IN GAZA CITY, INCLUDING FIVE SCHOOL CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF EIGHT AND 14. THE CALL SAID THAT "SEDITION IF WERE TO HAPPEN AND SUCCEED WOULD BENEFIT THE ZIONIST ENEMY ONLY AND WE ALL WILL BE LOSERS AS OUR ROAD AND GOAL IS ONE."
