Thursday, June 14, 2007

And so the end begins.

“We will execute Fatah leaders” screams the headline at Ynet News:
Hamas gunmen on Thursday afternoon completed the takeover of the central building of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service's headquarters in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas members took over vehicles and weapons in the compound, which is considered the Palestinian Authority's main symbol in the Strip. The Preventive Security Service cooperated with Israel in the past and is identified with Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan.

The gunmen who entered the compound held a prayer there and waved a flag on the building's rooftop. Hamas' television station is broadcasting from inside the compound, where senior Hamas members had been questioned in the past.

The Hamas TV also broadcasted a display of weapons inside the building, as well as jeeps, mortar shells and bulletproof vests seized in the compound, which according to Hamas, were smuggled to Fatah by Israel and the Americans in the past few months through the border with Egypt.

Hamas members held a prayer in the compound, which they referred to as the "heresy compound." Hamas also changed the name of the neighborhood where the building is located from "Tel al-Hawa" to "Tel al-Islam." Hamas' media outlets threatened to reach Fatah and the PA's official radio and telelvision stations, and provided the names of senior Fatah officials they planned to execute. "We will reach you," Hamas members told the Fatah leaders. Meanwhile, the gunmen collected weapons and ammunitions from the Fatah members' homes and from families affiliated with them.

"This is the first step in the establishment of the Islamic state," a Hamas member told Ynet from inside the Preventive Security Service building. "This is Islam's victory, Allah's victory, and we pray to Allah for brining us this victory."

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority Chairman has now ordered Fatah forces in the Gaza Strip to fight back against the Hamas tide. Ho hum, ho hum.

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