Hamas completes takeover of Gaza from Fatah

Terror party executes rivals, takes control of Strip

By ICEJ News

15 Jun 2007

According to all reports the Palestinian Hamas terror party is nearing completion of its violent takeover of virtually the entire Gaza Strip from rival Fatah forces, after publicly executing dozens and forcing the rest to flee or surrender. Late yesterday, Hamas gunmen took over the last Fatah stronghold in Gaza City, the offices of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who was in the West Bank city of Ramallah at the time.

Early this morning, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas announced that he would retain his position in the PA despite a "presidential decree" issued last night by Abbas in which he called for dissolution of the Hamas-led government. While Abbas declared a state of emergency in all the Palestinian territories, Haniyeh told reporters that the Hamas-led government would continue to function.

 Meanwhile, Israel continues to keep a low-profile approach to the unfolding drama in Gaza Strip, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert holding a series of high-level security consultations on Thursday but making no public comments on the developments or on how Israel will react. Sources told The Jerusalem Post that as long as the major border crossings do not fall into Hamas's hands, Israel will not have to decide whether it would agree to "functional contact" with the terror group to make sure that humanitarian aid gets into Gaza.

The violent turn of events in Gaza, and how to manage them, is expected to dominate talks between Olmert and US President George W. Bush and the top tier of US leaders in Washington next week.

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