One Palestinian police was killed as dozens of Islamic resistance group Hamas militants and police officers exchanged fire in Gaza City on Sunday, witnesses and security sources said.

More than 30 people were injured, most of them militants and police officers.

Witnesses said that the clashes erupted when a car carrying Hamas members refused to stop at a police checkpoint outside the Beach refugee camp in western Gaza City.

They said that Mohamed Ranteesi, son of the late Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Ranteesi who was assassinated by Israel in Gaza in May 2004, was driving the car.

After the police officers opened fire at the car, more Hamas militants arrived at the scene and clashed with the police.

Witnesses said that militants attacked a police station in the refuge camp, where heavy gunfire and several explosions were heard.

Palestinian residents of Sheikh Radwan in the north of Gaza City said that dozens of Hamas militants stormed a police station in the neighborhood. Leaders of the Palestinian factions held an urgent meeting to discuss the deteriorated situation and called for an immediate end to the internal conflict.

Palestinian security forces are trying to stop chaos by enforcing a ban on show of arms by militants in the streets and rallies, an agreement reached between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and major militant groups and effective from Sept. 24.

Source: Xinhua