Four Palestinian Arabs Killed in Gaza Violence

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Four Palestinian Arabs were killed yesterday in a resurgence of factional violence in Gaza, leading to fears an already fragile truce between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions would completely collapse.

The latest fighting came two days after Fatah and Hamas militants carried out a series of kidnappings and engaged in gunbattles in violation of a mid-December truce between the two groups, which are vying for control of the Palestinian Arab government.

Rival gunmen poured into the streets of the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya after a 25-year-old militant from President Abbas's Fatah Party was shot and killed. A woman was shot in the head and killed in the ensuing gunbattle, and 12 other people were moderately hurt, hospital and security officials said.

Later in the afternoon, gunmen ambushed Palestinian Arab security officers in Khan Younis.