Saudi King Urges Palestinians to Talk

Palestinians carry the body of Hamas militant Ahmed Saleh, who was killed in clashes with Fatah gunmen in the Jebaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007. Gunmen loyal to the ruling Hamas government attacked the house of a local Fatah leader Friday exchanging heavy fire, Palestinian sources said. At least 18 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in factional fighting between the groups in the Gaza Strip since Thursday. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa) (Hatem Moussa - AP)

Both sides began preparing for the possibility of a big battle after Israel left the Gaza Strip in September 2005 and the arms race intensified after Hamas won legislative elections a year ago and took control of the Palestinian government.

Rifles, missiles, ammunition and explosives have been pouring into Gaza through tunnels under the border with Egypt, reaching both Hamas and Fatah, security officials and weapons dealers say.

In a climate of increasing lawlessness, Gaza clans also have stocked up on weapons, two weapons dealers in the southern Gaza border town of Rafah said Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of arrest.

Higher-quality Russian- and Iraqi-made Kalashnikov assault rifles are no longer available, and Egyptian or Chinese models sell for up to $2,300, almost double what they cost a year ago, the dealers said. Kalashnikov bullets now cost $3.30 apiece, up from $2.30, they said.

Abu Suoud, 32, a Fatah gunman in Rafah, said his group is hoarding ammunition, and no longer wasting bullets by firing into the air at weddings and funerals.

"We save each bullet for the battle," he said.

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Associated Press writers Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah and Diaa Hadid in Jerusalem contributed to this report.