Hamas celebrate control of Gaza
Updated on 15 June 2007
Fatah goes after Hamas offices and officials in the West Bank as the spiralling crisis in the Middle East.
It was a palace tour - with a difference, Hamas gunmen trampled over both protocol and President Abbas plush residence in Gaza.
They mock the man who styles himself as the Palestinians supreme leader. Hamas, for now, reigns supreme here in Gaza after this weeks stunning conquest. The humiliation of Fatah - the once all powerful party of Yasser Arafat - is complete in this part of Palestine.
Over in the west bank, a very different picture. Hamas supporters, nowhere to be seen as Fatah loyalists roam the streets with their guns. Some come hooded, perhaps fearful of bloody reprisals in this grim internecine war.
Security forces under president Abbas control are flexing their military muscle on the streets of Ramallah. The events in Gaza have sent shock waves through the West Bank where Fatah has long been dominant. And they clearly intend it to stay that way.
At the nearby presidential compound Fatah leaders are rallying around President Abbas, seen emerging briefly for Friday prayers. His political advisors acknowledge they may have underestimated Hamas.
As both sides stake their own claims to authority President Abbas has announced that he's appointed Salam Fayyad, a western backed financier as his prime minister.
This has not amused Hamas and the man who currently claims that position, Ismail Haniyeh. He's called for calm and has refused to leave office, insisting that his Islamic party abides by democratic principles.
Claiming to still uphold those democratic ideals after days of murderous carnage Hamas supporters held rallies across Gaza today, where they urged on their victorious leaders.
In the West Bank Fatah held rallies too. There was also time to ransack the Hamas offices in Nablus, gunmen from the military wing taking turns to stack up the bonfire.
The two sides - have never seemed further apart as the dreams of unified Palestinian state, are devoured in the flames of this bloody conflict.
