A senior member in the Higher Committee of Palestinian Factions announced that four Fatah members that were kidnapped by Hamas movement in southern Gaza Strip were released Saturday evening.

Assem Abu Daqa, a member of the committee, said efforts are still underway to release four other Hamas members abducted by Fatah movement's gunmen in Gaza city earlier Saturday.

The trade of hostages came amid the recent escalating conflicts between the two rival movements.

Until Saturday noon, some 17 Palestinians, most are Hamas and Fatah militants, were killed in the gun battles that erupted on Thursday night when a jeep for Hamas-led Auxiliary Forces came under fire and one member was killed.

The ruling Hamas accused its arch-rival Fatah of being behind Thursday's conflict, while Fatah blamed Hamas on the subsequent violence.

Source: Xinhua