August 12, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 27, 1428

GAZA CITY, Aug 11: Hamas’ militia policing Gaza, the Executive Force, on Saturday announced the formation of its new coast guard unit, the Marine Police. Meanwhile, at least 20 demonstrators were injured in clashes with Hamas militants in the northern Gaza Strip sparked by the arrest of around 10 members of the Fatah party, relatives said.

Saber Khalifeh, a spokesman for the Executive Force, said the new body would consist of 150 members and soon begin its operations off the coast of the Gaza Strip.

He said the new force’s main functions would include preventing the smuggling of drugs into Gaza, protecting its fishermen and maintaining security for the residents on the beach.

Hamas had already introduced a new traffic police unit and it would soon open a new internal security agency, officials said.

In Beit Hanun, members of the Executive Force waded in with batons and fired shots in the air when some 150 relatives — mostly women and children — of those rounded up staged protests outside Hamas offices, witnesses said.

The arrests occurred during overnight marriage celebrations, during which some people began singing Fatah nationalistic songs, the witnesses said.

Members of the Executive Force were attacked with stones when they began to intervene.

“Those arrested are accused of disturbing the public order,” said Mr Khalifeh without elaborating.

In the West Bank village of Halhul, police chief Driss Jabari was wounded overnight when unknown gunmen shot him in the legs, according to Palestinian security sources.

The attack took place shortly after Palestinian police arrested about 10 Hamas activists at Halhul and nearby Hebron, the sources said.—Agencies