Israel Begins Returning Fatah-Affiliated Clan Members To Gaz

Israel began returning members of the Fatah-affiliated Hilles-clan to the Gaza Strip on Sunday following a request by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. The clan members fled to Israel on Saturday night after Hamas security forces in Gaza City attacked the group, claiming that the clan was behind a beachside bombing more than a week ago that killed five senior Hamas militants and a little girl. The Hamas crackdown prompted dozens of clan member to flee towards the Gaza-Israel border, where they were rescued under heavy fire by IDF forces and taken into Israel. 08/03/08