Hamas sources said the regime has banned all Fatah activities in the
Gaza Strip. The sources said Fatah would be punished for any activity,
including social assistance, conducted without permission of the Islamic
regime.
"Hamas has told Fatah that everything it does, including meetings, would
require permission," a Hamas source said.
[On Nov. 25, Hamas allowed the return of a former Fatah security chief.
Ahmed Hilles, who fled the Gaza Strip during a Hamas offensive in July 2008,
Hilles arrived in Gaza City after being given refuge by Israel and the
Palestinian Authority. Hilles had been regarded as an ally who helped
facilitate the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip.]
The Hamas decision was regarded as a ban on Fatah. Hamas has imposed a
series of crackdowns on Fatah since the Islamic movement captured the Gaza
Strip in June 2007.
Over the last two weeks, Fatah leaders in the Gaza Strip were warned
that they would be jailed if the movement tried to stage any public
activity. The sources said Hamas would treat Fatah as the Palestinian
Authority did the Islamic movement in the West Bank. The PA was said to
have detained about 300 Hamas members in the West Bank.
At this point, Hamas has not announced any formal ban of Fatah. Instead,
Hamas security officers have met Fatah leaders to warn them against any
public activity, including that under the guise of humanitarian assistance
or sport.