Palestinian sources said Western staffers, diplomats and journalists have entered the Gaza Strip in wake of the Hamas takeover in June 2007. The sources said Hamas has pledged to protect Western staffers and tourists from Palestinian attack and abductions.

On Monday, Hamas led a tour of foreign journalists through the Gaza Strip, major streets of which was lined with signs that read "No more threat for our foreign visitors and guests." The tour included visits to PA installations, Gaza beach and the Rafah border terminal, Middle East Newsline reported.

The sources said Hamas has provided protection to receptions attended by Western guests. They said Hamas's Executive Force has also ended Al Qaida-inspired attacks on Internet cafes, cellular stores and restaurants in the Gaza Strip.

"This is not a day for public relations," Hamas leader and former Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said during the tour. "This is a day for conveying the truth."

The sources said the Hamas regime has not imposed Islamic law on the Gaza Strip. They said Palestinians, including women, were encouraged to spend their time at the newly-cleaned beach.

"If we succeed here, the people in the West Bank will keep looking to this model," Hamas leader Ahmed Yousef said. "We don't want to promote the way of the Taliban."

At the same time, Hamas has established a new intelligence service meant to fight Fatah sabotage in the Gaza Strip. The sources said Hamas has been conducting nearly nightly raids of suspected Fatah strongholds and arresting operatives.