( AP ) - Hamas forces arrested four Fatah members late Friday in the northern Gaza Strip, sparking a protest by relatives that left at least 10 people injured, witnesses and officials said.
The arrests mark the first time since Hamas' bloody takeover of the Gaza Strip that it acknowledged it had arrested Fatah members because of their affiliation.
Some 150 woman and children took to the streets and stormed Hamas headquarters in the town of Beit Hanoun.
Witnesses said the protesters were beaten with sticks. Ten were evacuated to a local clinic for treatment, medical officials said.
Earlier Friday, thousands of Hamas demonstrators took to the streets of Gaza to protest the death of one if its people in the West bank, whom Hamas said was tortured by Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in June following a swift five-day assault against Fatah, loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Since then the Palestinian areas of Gaza and the West Bank have been functioning as separate entities, and a power struggle has ensued between the moderate Fatah government in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza.
Abbas has moved to cement his rule in the West Bank, while Hamas has strengthen its hold over Gaza.