Sporadic gunfire has threatened a fragile ceasefire between rival Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has expressed regret for a shooting incident involving the Palestinian prime minister that killed his bodyguard.

Hamas officials have accused Mr. Abbas' presidential guard of attacking Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's traveling party near the Egyptian border crossing in Gaza Strip. The guard has denied the charge, but the incident is likely to heighten tensions between the rival Palestinian Fatah and Hamas factions.

Israel has ordered the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip closed, leaving Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of the ruling Hamas group, stranded in Egypt.

Unidentified gunmen have shot and killed a Hamas-linked judge in the Gaza Strip, at a time of escalating tensions between Palestinian factions.

Three children are the latest victims of Palestinian factional fighting in the Gaza Strip. As Robert Berger reports from VOA's Jerusalem bureau, Gaza has been hit by escalating lawlessness and sporadic street battles since the Islamic militant group Hamas was elected in January.