PA's Jordan ambassador: Badr troops to enter Gaza

The Palestinian Authority's ambassador in Jordan announced Sunday that Fatah's Badr Brigade was making final preparations to enter Gaza, following the IDF shelling in Beit Hanun that resulted in the accidental deaths of 19 Palestinian civilians, Israel Radio reported. No final decision has been made yet, the ambassador said, but he expressed hope that the troops would be sent to Gaza by the end of the year. The Badr Brigade is comprised of some 1,500 Palestinian soldiers. In October, PA President Mahmoud Abbas requested permission from Israel to mobilize the PLO force in PA areas. Due to Fatah-Hamas clashes that were threatening to spin out of control, the government said it would consider the request.