The formation of a national unity government between the ruling Hamas party and opposition group al-Fatah occupied the agenda this weekend and prompted renewed fears of a civil war in Palestine. Conflicts between Hamas and al-Fatah forces in Gaza began on Saturday and intensified throughout Sunday. Eight people, two of them children, lost their lives in the clashes which broke out after Hamas members interfered in a protest meeting of police officials over unpaid salaries. More than 70 Palestinians were injured in the clashes. Hundreds of public officers who have not been paid for months took their anger to the streets yesterday, where Internal Ministry forces took action to stop the protestors.