Will Hamas be allowed to bring order to Gaza, when Abbas did not?
"We conducted a meeting with Abu Ubayda, spokesman for Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades. He threatened us, saying that if the journalist Alan Johnson isn't released immediately, undesired consequences would result."
The forum member added that the threat was "backed up by (Hamas politburo head) Khaled Mashaal."
According to the post, Hamas also threatened to encircle Tahwid al-Jihad, lay a siege to the group, and to eliminate it from the Gaza strip, if Johnston was not released.
http://www.ynetnews.com/...
"This (Hamas's threat and demand for Johnston's release) indicates that the dream of Islamic shriah rule (in Gaza) has evaporated," he added.
The latest apparent rise in tensions between Hamas and al-Qaeda come after a number of statements from Al-Qaeda leaders, who accused Hamas of abandoning global jihadi ideology in favor of secular nationalist goals.
Sounds to me like Hamas is ready to take on al-qaeda.
Hamas on Saturday issued a warning to all powerful clans in the Gaza Strip to hand over their weapons or else they would be disarmed by force.
snip
On Saturday, hundreds of Hamas militiamen attacked members of the pro-Fatah Astal clan in Khan Yunis. The clan had rejected an ultimatum by Hamas to surrender its weapons. At least two people were killed in the fighting.
Four other clans in the southern Gaza Strip, Abu Taha, Masri, Abu Amra and Barbakh, were told that they must hand over all their weapons by Sunday morning. The clans have long been known for their involvement in the smuggling of weapons and drugs from Egypt.
Sources in the Gaza Strip said Hamas militiamen began rounding up scores of men suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal activities over the weekend. Most of the suspects were caught as they tried to flee to Israel through the Erez checkpoint and Egypt through the Rafah border crossing, the sources told The Jerusalem Post.
http://www.jpost.com/...
In all fairness, Abbas was not given support by Olmert. But he was also unable to confront the gangs that were taking over Gaza.
US-backed efforts to undermine the Hamas-led government over the past 16 months have failed, largely because most Palestinians clearly do not regard Fatah as a better alternative to Hamas. In the aftermath of its defeat in the 2006 election, Fatah failed to draw the conclusions and get rid of all the icons of corruption among its top brass. Moreover, Fatah did not engage in any kind of internal reforms, and representatives of the young generation remained marginalized.
http://www.jpost.com/...
Are we really prepared to "openly" topple democracies we don't like?
I say give Hamas a chance to free journalist and soldiers, and stop qussam rockets....BEFORE we start bombing and killing more civilians.