Fatah accuses Hamas of using its men as 'human shields'

[oberliner]

The Fatah movement on Thursday accused Hamas of using seized Fatah operatives as "human shields" in the face of Israeli attacks in Gaza.

This after a Fatah operative being held in a Hamas structure was killed in an IDF strike. The operative was arrested on Wednesday after returning to the Strip from Egypt through the Rafah border crossing.

At the center of the current turmoil between factions is Abdullah Kishta, a 27-year-old Fatah operative, which Fatah claims was wanted by both the IDF and Hamas. Kishta fled Gaza after Hamas' takeover in June of last year, and took advantage of the return of some 2,000 Palestinian pilgrims to the Strip by hiding amongst them and infiltrating from Egypt.

However, Hamas men who had anticipated infiltration attempts by wanted Fatah men located Kishta in the crowd and arrested him upon his entry to the Strip.

Kishta was arrested along with about seven additional Fatah operatives, who were scattered amongst various Hamas facilities throughout the Strip. He himself was transferred into custody in Hamas' outpost in Tel Sultan, and killed in an IDF attack in the area.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3490250,00.html