Hamas suspends anti-Israel attacks

RAMALLAH, West Bank, 22 December — The Islamic resistance group Hamas announced yesterday that it was suspending bombings and mortar attacks against Israel, boosting chances for a truce to take hold. In renewed internal Palestinian fighting, six people were killed during a gunbattle in a Gaza refugee camp.

The Hamas announcement came after two days of clashes between Palestinian police — who have been trying to enforce a cease-fire — and supporters of Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group. In all, six Palestinians have been killed and 94 hurt in internal confrontations since Thursday, doctors said.

Hamas said in a leaflet faxed to news agencies that it ordered the attacks suspended "until further notice" to preserve Palestinian unity. The announcement was seen as a victory for Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. It was the first time Hamas had made such a promise in the 15 months of fighting.

A senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Hamas announcement was a result of negotiations between leaders of the group and senior Palestinian Authority officials that ended early yesterday.

It was not clear whether Islamic Jihad would also suspend attacks. Abu Imad Al-Rifai, the Islamic Jihad representative in Lebanon, said his group would continue attacks against Israel. "Our position is to continue. We have no other choice. We are not willing to compromise," he said.

Despite the Hamas announcement, tensions were running high in Gaza.

In the Jabaliya refugee camp, thousands of mourners yesterday joined the funeral procession of a 17-year-old Islamic Jihad supporter killed in a gunbattle with Palestinian police. "Resistance will continue despite the sacrifices," the crowd chanted as dozens of gunmen fired in the air.

When the funeral procession passed the local police station, gunmen opened fire at officers inside, drawing return fire. Five Palestinians were killed and 55 hurt in the exchange, doctors said. At least two of those killed were Islamic Jihad activists, Palestinian security officials said. Frantic bystanders, including a woman holding an infant swaddled in a blanket, ran for cover or crouched down behind cars.

Earlier in the day, about 400 Hamas supporters marched on a police station in the Dir Al-Balah refugee camp in central Gaza, throwing rocks and bottles. Police fired in the air to repel the demonstrators.

In the West Bank town of Tulkarem, Palestinian police prevented Fatah members from firing at Israeli soldiers, and the fighters fired at the police instead, the Palestinian governor said. Two people were wounded as they tried to separate the two sides, he said.