Tues, Nov. 11, is the 10th anniversary of the death of former terrorist leader Yasser Arafat. Arafat was a founder and leader of the Fatah movement.
On Friday, Nov. 7, there were explosions in 10 different locations in Gaza. All of the houses and cars that were hit belonged to members of Arafat’s Fatah movement. One of the explosions took place at the stage being set up for the upcoming Arafat commemoration.
Fatah Spokesperson Fayez Abu Eita has now told AFP that it was canceling the Arafat commemoration ceremonies in Gaza, because Hamas said it could not guarantee security at the memorial events.
Fatah blamed Hamas for the explosions which struck homes and cars belonging to Fatah officials in the Gaza Strip. Hamas condemned the strikes, describing them as a “heinous crime aimed at damaging Gaza’s internal security.”
There has been no claim of responsibility for the strikes.
On the fifth year anniversary of Arafat’s death, Hamas forbade any commemoration of the event. That was in 2009, just two years after Hamas ousted Fatah leadership from the Gaza Strip.