On Saturday, Dahlan blamed Israel for the defeat of Fatah. He told the
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya satellite channel that Fatah had not prepared for war
against Hamas.
"Hamas doesn't separate between an Islamic state in Afghanistan and an
Islamic state in Palestine," Dahlan said. "It is interested only in an
Islamic state and not a nation."
PA police director-general Brig. Gen. Kamal Sheik, loyal to Abbas, has
suspended activities of the police in the Gaza Strip. Sheik said PA police
were banned from cooperating with Hamas elements.
"In accordance with the Palestinian president's decision to dismiss the
government and the prime minister, this [Hamas] government has become
illegal," Sheik said.
Palestinian sources said hundreds of Fatah and PA officers have fled the
Gaza Strip. On June 15, nearly 100 Palestinians, most of them Fatah
officials, arrived in the Egyptian port of El Arish by fishing boat. The
passengers included senior members of the Preventive Security Apparatus,
civilian police, General Intelligence, Border Guard and Al Aqsa Martyrs
Brigade.
Hamas has also been executing Fatah commanders in the Gaza Strip. On
June 15, PSA Capt. Salamah Barbach, accused of killing Hamas operatives, was
shot to death in Khan Yunis.
Earlier, Hamas executed Fatah operative Iyad Ashour in Gaza City. Ashour
was accused of participating in a Fatah attack in Rafah in early June.
Despite his dismissal, Haniyeh continued official duties in the Gaza
Strip. On Saturday, he ordered the formation of a so-called supreme police
council.
The council commander, responsible for the Gaza Strip, was identified as
Brig. Gen. Tawfiq Jaber and deputy, Maher Ramli. Haniyeh aides said the
council would oversee security on behalf of the Interior Ministry.
