In my diary yesterday I stated that Hamas had seized control of the Gaza Strip. Some thought that perhaps I was being premature and jumping the gun (no pun intended) in claiming that Gaza had in fact been taken. I defended myself, saying Fatah had been marginalized and rendered ineffectual. Today that became perfectly clear.
Fatah is down to its last bastions in the Gaza Strip, within Gaza City itself.
Hamas has seized every other key position, and has now
given Fatah-linked security officers in northern Gaza a two-day ultimatum to lay down their arms, according to a statement sent by text message and announcements made on Hamas-linked radio stations Wednesday.
Hamas is now in control of southern, central, and northern Gaza, with Fatah's only remaining significant positions located in Gaza City.
The Jerusalem Post reported
The gunmen said that if the security forces did not turn over their weapons by 7 p.m. Friday, they would take the weapons by force.
The stakes have gotten much larger, as Hamas has consolidated control over the Gaza strip, in the process taking much of Fatah's weapons that have been supplied by the United States
"They have seized thousands of rifles, large amounts of ammunition and dozens of vehicles, including armored jeeps," he said. "This is really bad news for all." >
An even more heavily armed Hamas is the last thing anyone needs, and the last thing Israel will stand for.
The extent of the human tragedy is expanding, as the UNRWA has ceased its operations in the Gaza Strip.
Two United Nations employees, both Palestinians, were shot dead in the Gaza Strip and the relief agency said on Wednesday it would temporarily
suspend most of its operations in the coastal territory.
This comes as food supplies dwindle and the humanitarian crisis grows.
The attacks have become increasingly brutal. Jamal Abu Jadian, a Fatah commander was killed by Hamas gunmen after being discovered fleeing dressed as a woman.
But when Abu Jadian arrived at a hospital a few hundred meters away from his house, he was discovered by a group of Hamas gunmen, who took turns shooting him in the head with automatic rifles.
"They literally blew his head off with more than 40 bullets," said a doctor at Kamal Udwan Hospital.
There have been scattered reports of the fighting spreading to the West Bank, and in particular Nablus. It has not been as severe as the fighting in Gaza, but the situation may change radically should Fatah decide to consolidate and retrench within the West Bank.
The international community is finally waking up to the gravity of the situation, with the European Union stating that they would be willing to bear the burden of a police action on the Gaza-Egypt border.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has condemned both Fatah and Hamas as violating international law and committing war crimes, saying
"In internal Palestinian fighting over the last three days, both Fatah and Hamas military forces have summarily executed captives, killed people not involved in hostilities, and engaged in gun battles with one another inside and near Palestinian hospitals," the organization said in a statement.
To sum up-Hamas has, as I stated yesterday seized power in Gaza. The situation on the ground is changing too quickly to conduct any careful analysis, particularly if the violence spreads to the West Bank. If you are looking for updates and analysis, I will be regularly updating my personal blog.