Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip this week abducted a prominent figure in the rival Fatah movement. But instead of torturing or executing their nemesis, the Hamas men decided to go one better and shaved off his very large mustache.

Nafez al-Namnam, better known as Abu Rami, was arrested and his facial hair unceremoniously removed after a mysterious explosion last Friday killed five Hamas men at a popular local hangout in Gaza City.

Palestinian media controlled by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction carried furious reports and editorials slamming the humiliating act of retribution.

Fatah officials cited by The Jerusalem Post said that the practice of shaving the mustaches of political opponents is not uncommon in Arab culture, and had been employed by Hamas on a regular basis until a few years ago.

Hamas responded by noting that Fatah had similarly humiliated its members by shaving their beards.

Kind of puts Arab complaints about the "humiliation" experienced by waiting in line at Israeli checkpoints into perspective.