Mideast: Several thousand Palestinians took to the streets in a Gaza refugee camp yesterday in support of an attack on Thursday night that killed six Israeli civilians.
The demonstration underlines the magnitude of the task that confronts newly elected Palestinian leader Mr Mahmoud Abbas, who has called for an end to violence.
The attack, which was carried out jointly by three armed groups, poses a direct challenge to Mr Abbas by militants. One of the groups was Hamas, which boycotted the Palestinian elections on Sunday last and which has carried out most of the suicide bombings; another was the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, which is loosely associated with Mr Abbas's ruling Fatah party.
In the attack, militants detonated over 100 kilograms of explosives next to a door in the security wall at the Karni border crossing between Gaza and Israel, through which merchandise and food is moved. Three gunmen ran through the hole and opened fire, killing the six Israelis. All three gunmen were shot dead by Israeli security guards.
Mr Abbas, who wants to get militant groups and Israel to agree to a ceasefire, yesterday condemned the attack as well as Israeli military actions. "These attacks and what Israel did last week by killing nine Palestinians do not benefit peace," he told reporters.
Mr Abbas believes that his people's aspirations can best be realised at the negotiating table. But he has also said he will not accede to a demand by Israel and the US that he use force to crush armed groups. He hopes to convince organisations like Hamas to agree to a truce and ultimately wants to co-opt them into the political process.
But the attack on Thursday night - and the march in Gaza - raise questions about the new Palestinian leader's ability not only to forge a ceasefire, but to ensure it sticks.