GAZA CITY — Hamas has taken control of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Authority officials said.
Palestinian sources said Hamas forces, some of them dressed in uniforms,
have been manning roadblocks and patrolling the streets of towns and cities
in the Gaza Strip. The sources said virtually all of Gaza's refugee camps
have come under Hamas control.
"This is the new reality," a Palestinian Authority official said. "Hamas
is in control and all we can do is look on."
"There is no real PA presence in Gaza," Palestinian Legislative Council
member Nabil Amr said, according to Middle East Newsline.
[On Thursday, Hamas was expected to expand its authority in the West
Bank during the second round of municipal elections. The movement was
expected to win many of the 104 municipalities up for grabs. Hamas was
competing in 50 municipalities although many of candidates have been
arrested by Israel.]
The sources said Hamas has been strongest in the southern Gaza Strip.
They said masked Hamas operatives have taken over Rafah near the Egyptian
border.
The sources said Hamas has also gained control over refugee camps in the
Gaza Strip. They said Hamas operatives patrol such camps as Jabalya, north
of Gaza City; Brazil, outside Rafah, and Bureij in the central Gaza Strip.
Hamas said it has seven brigade commanders in the Gaza Strip, led by
Mohammed Deif. The sources said Hamas has at least 5,000 fighters under
arms.
On late Wednesday, two unidentified Palestinian insurgents were injured
in a gun battle with PA forces near the Karni border terminal. Palestinian
sources said the insurgents were on their way to attack an Israeli target.
Palestinian sources said Hamas has also refused to cooperate in PA
criminal investigations. They include the Interior Ministry probe of the
explosion of a truck-load of Kassam-class missiles on Sept. 23 in the Jablya
refugee camp north of Gaza City. Nineteen people were killed and more than
100 others were injured in the blast.
Instead, Hamas has begun to assault PA critics. On Sept. 25, Hamas
gunmen attacked the Gaza City home of PA Interior Ministry spokesman Tawfiq
Abu Khoussa. Nobody was injured.
"The security situation is in a very bad state," PLC member Ghassan
Shakaa said in a debate in parliament on Sept. 19.
