GAZA CITY, 27 May 2006 — The Hamas-led government withdrew its 3,000-strong private militia from the streets of Gaza yesterday, saying it wanted to reduce friction with the rival Fatah movement. The move came on the second day of Hamas’ talks with Fatah, aimed at halting violence and resolving the deadlock that has paralyzed the Palestinian government and frozen relations with most of the world. The factions later formed a committee to sort out the problem.

The talks focused on President Mahmoud Abbas’ demand that Hamas accept the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. In a bold move, Abbas said Thursday he will hold a national referendum on the proposal in July if Hamas, which is committed to Israel’s destruction, doesn’t accept the plan within 10 days.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas is expected to meet with Abbas next week to discuss the proposal, Hamas officials said. But in a speech yesterday, Haniyeh hinted that he opposes a referendum.

“This (a referendum) is not a substitute for the political program of the government that was approved by Parliament,” he said in a sermon after Friday prayers at a Gaza mosque. Haniyeh said Hamas will stick to its political program.

The black-clad Hamas militia, deployed last week, has been at the center of growing tensions in Gaza that have left many fearing all-out civil war. Ten people have been killed in Fatah-Hamas clashes over the past week, and a senior commander from Fatah was seriously wounded in an assassination attempt. Hamas officials said they were not disbanding the unit, only removing it from public areas to avoid friction. The gunmen were not in sight yesterday, and the streets of Gaza City were quiet. “We are complying with orders,” said Youssef Zahar, a leader of the militia.

He said Interior Minister Said Siyam, a top Hamas official, ordered the forces to gather in bases and help regular police forces, which are dominated by Fatah, if requested. He said the unit also would conduct its own patrols, but did not say when this would happen.

Haniyeh said Hamas insists the militia be folded into the police force. “It will be a police force that will wear the uniform of the police,” he said.

Still, the decision signaled a concession by Hamas, which only days earlier said it had no intention of withdrawing the force. Fatah officials want the militia disbanded, but say individual members could become members of existing police units.

Reflecting Israeli concerns about the situation, officials confirmed yesterday that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz agreed to permit Abbas to obtain new arms to beef up his presidential guard. Israel normally opposes any arms entering the Palestinian areas, fearing they will be used against Israel. Amos Gilad, a top Defense Ministry official, said the arms would come from a third country, not Israel.

“I can’t tell you the exact amount of weapons, but it is a limited amount intended for the purpose of securing Abbas’ ability to protect himself on the backdrop of the important decisions he makes,” he told Israel Radio.

Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said the Israeli claim was “baseless,” though he conceded there are concerns for Abbas’ safety in the current environment.

Meanwhile, five Palestinian were killed by Israeli fire and five other civilians were wounded yesterday in the Gaza Strip, witnesses and medical sources said.

Three Palestinians were killed in Fadous area near Beit Lahiya city in northern Gaza Strip yesterday evening when an Israeli artillery shell hit their house.

Medical sources at Kamal Edwan hospital identified the killed as Mohammad Qasem, 18, Mostafa Qasem, 15, and Arafa Zrandah, 19. Five other civilians were wounded in the shelling.

Also in the southern Gaza Strip, a Palestinian was shot dead when the Israeli soldiers positioned near Kussifim crossing opened fire at him.

Earlier, a farmer was killed when an Israeli artillery shell landed into his field near Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Medical sources identified the killed farmer as Omar Abu Warda, 42.

— With input from agencies