Palestinian security guards reportedly killed 14 Palestinians Monday in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria. According to witnesses, an angry crowd of mourners began to charge toward leaders of Palestinian factions, prompting their security guards to open fire.

The mourners accused the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) of endangering their lives during Sunday's protest on Israel's border, by encouraging them to put themselves in the line of fire.

Open gallery view Syrian and Palestinian protesters run away from teargas near the ceasefire line between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights June 5, 2011. Credit: Reuters

The crowd chanted slogans against Maher al-Taher, PFLP spokesman and politburo member, and set fire to the PFLP headquarters. There are additional reports that Khaled Meshal, Hamas political leader in Damascus, arrived at the camp but was forced to leave.

PFLP leadership claims that outside forces are behind the riot, and that some of those killed are PLFP activists.

Syria said on Monday that 23 people were killed in Sunday's "Naksa Day" rally, commemorating 44 years since the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel captured Syria's Golan Heights in that conflict, as well as the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Official Syrian news agency SANA quoted Health Minister Wael al-Halki as saying the death toll included a woman and a child, adding that another 350 people suffered gunshot wounds.

The Israeli Defense Force continued Tuesday to amass forces on the border between Israel and Syria, mainly in response to warnings of further protests to mark the 44th anniversary of the battles over East Jerusalem in the Six-Day War.

