MIDEAST ISRAEL PALESTINIANS

An Israeli soldier looks on, as blindfolded Palestinians, believed to be Fatah supporters who fled the fighting in the Gaza Strip and crossed into Israel, stand near the Nahal Oz military base on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008. Hamas forces on Saturday battled Fatah gunmen with mortars and machine guns in a crowded Gaza City neighborhood, leaving nine dead and 88 wounded in one of Gaza's bloodiest rounds of internal fighting since Hamas seized the territory more than a year ago. About 150 Palestinians who fled the fighting would be allowed through a Gaza crossing into Israel and transferred to the West Bank unless they needed medical treatment at Israeli hospitals, Israel's army spokesman said.