Good Morning Gaza, Good Night Hamastan

It looks like its going to be an absolutely banner day for Hamas in the Gaza Strip despite an early assault launched by Fatah on Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s home in the Shati refugee camp reports the Jerusalem Post reports:

A rocket-propelled grenade hit the home of Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Tuesday in what his Hamas movement said was an assassination attempt by Fatah, but caused no injuries. Exasperated Egyptian mediators said the bitter rivals turned down an appeal to meet for truce talks.

Heavy gun battles erupted in several locations, in what security officials described as a Hamas assault on positions of the Fatah-allied security forces, and four security bases were overrun by Hamas in the southern town of Khan Younis. In the West Bank, Fatah gunmen threatened to retaliate by killing Hamas leaders.

I have come to the conclusion; no one does refugee camp quite like Palestinian leaders - regardless of the degree of religiosity. Granite counter-tops in the midst of a home located in the UNWRA run refugee camp…who would have thought it?
 

(Reuters Photo)

Furthermore, I think it is extremely clever of Hamas to begin seizing control of the hospitals in the Gaza Strip - even if it is a touch Machiavellian. This one in Khan Younis represents the third one Hamas has effectively taken control over in the last 48 hours.

And the Jerusalem Post is report that it looks like Hamas is on the verge of capturing the flag in this report:

Hamas forces captured the headquarters of the Fatah-allied security forces in northern Gaza, seizing control of a key prize in the bloody power struggle between the sides, Hamas and Fatah officials said. Hamas attacked the compound with mortars and automatic gunfire, and after several hours of battle, seized control, said Hamas commander Wael al-Shakra.

A Fatah security official confirmed the building had been lost. He said at least 10 people were killed and 30 wounded. The attack was part of a full-scale assault launched by Hamas earlier Tuesday afternoon against Fatah security bases and positions in Gaza.

Hamas-affiliated television said that the organization overtook the entire northern section of the Gaza Strip. After airing the report, the station was attacked by PA security forces and forced to play pro-Fatah songs.

Israel Radio also reported that a top Fatah military official sent a message to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas stating that security forces were holding their ground, but calling on the Fatah leader to order an end to the current policy of restraint, allowing troops to return fire. Less then an hour after the attack, Abbas called for an immediate cease-fire.

In response to the Hamas assault, Fatah gunmen kidnapped a deputy Cabinet minister from Hamas on Tuesday. The fate of Deputy Transportation Minister Faidi Shabaneh, 46, was not known. Members of the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, a violent Fatah offshoot, said Shabaneh was not harmed, denying claims on Hamas Web sites that he had been killed by his captors. Hamas said Shabaneh was seized by gunmen after he emerged from his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Also on Tuesday afternoon, Fatah announced that within several hours, the faction would decide whether to stay in the unity government with Hamas, or leave the Palestinian Authority government altogether, Israel Radio reported. The announcement coincided with a Hamas attack on the National Security headquarters in Gaza, an incident which followed a recent threat of such action by the extremist Islamic faction. National Security is one of the armed forces affiliated with Fatah. Hamas also announced that Fatah must evacuate all buildings used by Military Intelligence, the Revolutionary Guard, National Security and Preventive Security.

Ynet News carries this pass the popcorn report:

Both Fatah and Hamas are preparing for an even larger confrontation in the coming hours, in a fight for control of various power centers in Gaza, sources from both factions told Ynet Tuesday night. Many of these are located near the office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas sources said they are determined to take over important Fatah security headquarters all over Gaza and believe that their faction and its allies hOne operative said that Hamas gunmen have been training in recent months to learn how to infiltrate compounds and secured outposts. He said that, because of their training and weaponry, he believed his faction would be able to defeat Fatah.

Hamas field operatives said their forces intend to split into several squads, of six armed men on average, with 120 bullets per operative and a missile-launcher, eight mortars and 4 grenades in every cell.

According to a senior Hamas source, "Yassin" mortars – the organization's version of a D2 mortar – will be the key in beating the rival faction. He said Hamas possessed and intended to use hundreds of these mortars Tuesday night.

Fatah sources, on the other hand, feel well-equipped to put up a fight and drive back any Hamas attack. They said tens of thousands of operatives would deploy near the Muntada area - where Abbas' office and several security headquarters are located. Fatah operatives, who are preparing for a defensive operation, have already deployed in most of the tall buildings overlooking the area. They said they have several armored vehicles and extensive weapons stores at hand.

Good night Gaza, bye-bye Fatah, and welcome to Hamastan.

The Palestinian "Moderate" party request more munitions

Another round of cease fire ended in the Gaza Strip. Ha’aretz is reporting 1 dead Fatah member and 9 others wounded.

A Fatah man was killed by Hamas militants early Thursday in a gunbattle in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said, becoming the first casualty in internal fighting in more than two weeks. Five others were wounded in the gunbattle near Rafah, two seriously, Palestinian hospital officials said.
(…)

The early morning battle began with Hamas gunmen shooting at a group of Fatah men near Rafah, according to a security official from the town. He said Hamas gunmen then surrounded a house belonging to a local Fatah leader, and lobbed explosives at the house. In the exchange of fire, Fuad Wahaba, 27, the brother of the Fatah official, was killed.

Hamas confirmed that a skirmish had taken place but said its men opened fire after being shot at by Fatah gunmen. There have been sporadic clashes and continued tit-for-tat kidnappings, but the incidents were quickly resolved, as the two factions held talks in Cairo to cement their cease-fire. The talks ended Wednesday.

The fighting in Rafah continued after that incident, with masked Hamas men surrounding four other homes belonging to Fatah officials, an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.

I have to admit I gave up trying to keep count of when the ceasefires begin and end in the Gaza Strip about two weeks ago as there didn’t seem to be much point. Now Fatah officials are now asking Israel to allow the importation of munitions from Egypt in order to be able to effective counter the Hamas hegamony. And what a list of goodies they ask for. Ha’aretz reports:

Senior Fatah officials in the Gaza Strip have asked Israel to allow them to receive large shipments of arms and ammunition from Arab countries, including Egypt. The group says it needs the weapons to counter attacks by Hamas, which has an overwhelming advantage in the Gaza Strip. On Thursday morning, a Fatah member was killed in a gunbattle with rival Hamas, the first internal clashes for more than two weeks.

Israel has not officially responded to the request, which includes dozens of armored cars, hundreds of armor-piercing RPG rockets, thousands of hand grenades and millions of rounds of ammunition for small caliber weapons. In addition, Fatah is organizing yet another paramilitary force in the Gaza Strip, sources say.

Just what the Gaza Strip needs - another paramilitary organization and with more munitions. I don’t know why I didn’t suggest it but what is far more interesting in this Ha’aretz article is the conflicting assessments between Israel’s military intelligence and the Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security force) on the strenght of Fatah in the Gaza Strip:

Israeli intelligence officials are not unanimous in their assessments of Fatah's and Hamas' strength in Gaza. Most Shin Bet experts and officers in charge of activity in the territories believe that Fatah is on the verge of collapse in the strip and that a future confrontation with Hamas may bring about its final defeat. They argue that there is no point in supporting Fatah, because all the equipment the movement receives will eventually fall into Hamas' hands.

On the other hand, Military Intelligence and other intelligence experts believe that Fatah is not close to surrendering, and that reinforcing the group with equipment from abroad should be considered seriously. Some Fatah officials in the Gaza Strip cite the latest round of fighting with Hamas as proof that the organization is much stronger than was originally thought. General Dayton supports this position, and has even made statements to this effect during U.S. congressional hearings.

So who’s intel is more accurate - Shin Bet or the IDF military intelligence? Of course, the IDF’s military intelligence position is backed by US Administration’s position as well as Fatah’s personal assesments; though, I do find I am unable to follow the logic of Fatah officials citing the lastest round of fighting as proof that Fatah is stronger than originally thought. I mean, well, Hamas launching attacks on a Fatah official’s homes, leaving one 1 dead and 9 others wounded doesn’t particularly conjure up an image of strenght in my mind.

When Semites move the “anti” goal post

Nothing reeks of desperation better than issuing a fatwa against your political terror rivals. A little bird tells me it’s going to be a tough sell remaking Hamas as a Jewish organization but apparently Fatah is going to give it a go. Arutz Sheva reports:

IsraelNN.com) A Muslim cleric, apparently from the Palestinian Authority, has released a fatwa (religious ruling) permitting the killing of members of the Hamas terrorist organization. In support of his position, the heretofore unknown sheikh declared Hamas to have "Jewish;" yet, he said that "the Jews have more mercy" on the Arabs than Hamas.

The fatwa and accompanying argumentation appeared in two articles, one in the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan and the other published on the website of the Fatah terrorist organization, headed by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

(…)
Among other affronts, the Fatah-backed sheikh declared, Hamas is willing to ally itself with non-Muslims and to battle co-religionists. Al-Hiran then said that Hamas-backed scholars should be confronted about the activities of their organization. "If they say that what they [i.e., Hamas members] do is prohibited, then you should kill them cold-bloodedly, [and you will] be rewarded by Allah for ridding Muslims of their influence and evil. Jews have more mercy towards our nation than [Hamas]. If they [i.e., the scholars]."say that their conduct is permitted, then kill their scholars.... They are all the same." The article is titled "The Common Characteristics of Hamas and the Jews.

What's next? Hamas blows shofars? And remember the Sheikh is sponsored by Fatah, you know - the moderate Palestinian terror organization.