International   

Hamas takes over Gaza

Atul Aneja

Haniyeh regime sacked

DUBAI: The Palestinian militant group Hamas has established complete military control over Gaza after eliminating rival Fatah's hold in the strategic coastal strip.

After seizing Fatah's Preventive Security compound on Thursday, Hamas fighters took over the last bastion of Fatah authority — the seaside office complex of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Vengeful crowds then looted the Gaza residence of Mohammed Dahlan, Mr. Abbas' National Security Adviser. Mr. Dahlan has been considered the driving force behind the Preventive Security establishment, which has frequently targeted Hamas in the past.

As Hamas fighters established control, there were reports that a boat packed with 60 top military officers of Fatah was headed for Egypt. Hamas on Thursday took over the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. The European Union (E.U) monitors posted there have left the area.

In contrast to Thursday's fighting, there was calm on the streets of Gaza on Friday. Shops were open and normal traffic resumed in Gaza city.

Fearing that Hamas might target the West Bank at a later stage, Fatah is digging in deeper in the territory. On Friday, fighters belonging to the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade — a Fatah offshoot — killed a Hamas commander in Nablus. In a show of force, Palestinian security forces, which are loyal to Mr. Abbas, have been driving through Ramallah in West Bank in pickup trucks.

On the political side, Mr. Abbas dismissed the National Unity Government, which had Hamas as Fatah's partner. Mr. Abbas appointed the present Finance Minister Salam Fayyad as Prime Minister.

However, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas ignored Mr. Abbas' directive. With Hamas overrunning Gaza, the Palestinian territories have been split into two rival camps. Fatah is now the dominant force only in the West Bank.

The Hamas triumph in Gaza also has larger international implications, as Syria and Iran back the group. On the other hand, key European countries and the United States support Fatah.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Hamas takes over Gaza
Amnesty plea on rights in Sri Lanka
9 die in Quetta attack
Camp destroyed
BAE appoints ethics panel to review business practices
Atlantis: crucial repairs during third spacewalk
India, Russia sort out differences on flights
India, Indonesia to enhance defence ties

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu