Abbas, finding his authority limited to the occupied West Bank, split with Hamas and revived peace efforts with Israel. He recently sought reconciliation with his Islamist rivals but they have balked at his precondition that they give up Gaza.The Hamas armed wing issued a statement blaming "members of the fugitive party"-a derogatory term for Fatah-for Friday night's blast at a major junction outside Gaza City."We have information that some elements are planning to carry out bombings against the interests and leaders of Hamas in order to sow anarchy," said senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, whose son, himself a gunman, was wounded in the explosion.Nineteen other Palestinians were hurt, medical officials said, many of them passers-by on their way to the beach.Fatah officials in the West Bank could not immediately be reached for comment on the Hamas accusations.Hours later,Hamas said a car belonging to one of its members was torched in the southern Gaza town of Rafah.There were no casualties.Hamas police then stormed a local home and arrested two brothers, both Fatah members, Hamas said.
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As in the days of Noah...