Palestinian Cease-Fire Holds on 1st Day

[Behind the Aegis]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- A cease-fire aimed at halting months of deadly internal Palestinian violence held on its first day, but underlying tensions cast doubt on the future of the stand-down.

For the most part, gunmen from the rival groups Hamas and Fatah held their fire on Tuesday, observing a truce that went into effect before dawn. In the only exception, a Hamas militant was killed in the southern city of Khan Younis. Hamas blamed Fatah but did not retaliate.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas called for a total halt to the internal violence that killed 36 people over the past week alone.

"The past few days were difficult, and everyone paid in blood," he said in Gaza. "Everyone is facing a difficult test, either we maintain this calm ... or everything collapses again, and then everyone will be held responsible."

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