The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Jerusalem

Israel said on Monday it will transfer to the West Bank Fatah members who had fled the Gaza Strip amid concern that those who had already returned to the Hamas-ruled territory were in mortal danger.

The announcement reversed a previous decision that more than 200 members of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's party who had fled Gaza into Israel on Saturday should be returned there and not transferred to the West Bank.

The secular Fatah members had fled Gaza following a day of deadly clashes with their bitter Islamist Hamas rivals.

Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, routing forces loyal to Abbas whose authority is today limited to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad agreed that the fugitives would be transferred to the West Bank town of Jericho, a senior Israeli security official told AFP.

More than 20 fugitives including Ahmed Helis, the head of a powerful pro-Fatah clan, who were hospitalised for wounds inflicted in the fighting, will remain in Israel until they recover, a defence ministry statement said.

Others were being held and questioned by the Israeli army, a spokesman said.

Around 35 Fatah members were sent back to Gaza on Sunday, and several were immediately detained for questioning by Hamas-run security forces.

"Israeli authorities halted the process, however, as they received information that they were being arrested by Hamas and that their lives were in immediate danger," the Israeli statement said.

Hamas police spokesman Islam Shahwan said that of the 35, 10 were arrested and the others fled.

Israel's about-turn also followed an urgent appeal to the Supreme Court by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, which said the Fatah members would be at mortal risk if returned to Gaza.

In its reply, the state said that Monday's decision applied to all of the fugitives expect for several Palestinians who have been detained by Israel's internal security services and those who wish to return to Gaza.

According to a senior official in Ramallah, Israeli authorities have already given the green light for some 30 fugitives to cross to the West Bank.