[On Tuesday, Israel's military ruled out a major operation in the Gaza
Strip in wake of a Palestinian missile strike in which 69 soldiers were
injured, Middle East Newsline reported. Military sources cited government restraint as well as an alert
along Israel's borders with Lebanon and Syria.]
The report, released on Aug. 8, said Hamas fighters decided on their own
to destroy the Fatah movement and capture the Gaza Strip. The report said
Hamas's military wing, pressed by the prospect of a Fatah attack and rivalry
from Al Qaida, attacked Palestinian Authority security installations
throughout the Gaza Strip.
"It appeared not so much a victory for Hamas — which was suddenly
confronted with new and unprecedented responsibilities and challenges — as
for the Kassam Brigades, not only because they and their commanders rather
than the politicians in Gaza or Damascus seemed to be calling the shots, but
because Fatah's defeat and their control of Gaza's streets gave them the
opportunity to appear publicly for the first time in over a decade," the
report said.
The report said Hamas operatives would reject any proposal to reconcile
with Fatah. ICG said many Hamas fighters, particularly from the Executive
Force, have been benefiting from the defeat of Fatah. They have been driving
cars that used to belong to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his security
forces.
"Almost immediately after their takeover, Hamas forces began
systematically visiting, questioning, disarming and with some regularity
detaining PA security personnel, using the Finance Ministry payroll to
identify targets," the report said.
Hamas has disbanded Fatah-aligned security agencies such as the
Presidential Guard and the Preventive Security Apparatus. At the same time,
the Executive Force has been targeting drug dealers in an effort to reduce
crime and end clan violence.
"Since June 13, there are almost no armed men on the streets, no
checkpoints and cleaner streets," Raji Sourani, a prominent human
rights lawyer, said.
