Endgame for Fatah

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Hamas is taking over the last of Fatah's strongholds in the Gaza Strip. The author interviewed the commander of the Al Aqsa Brigades Militia, who said that the Palestinians were punishing Fatah for 12 years of corrupt rule ... but that after this, they would surely remember Hamas' actions, and punish them later.

Pray for peace in the Middle East.

Ed O'Loughlin watches as Hamas takes over the last of its rival's strongholds in the Gaza Strip.


Fading hope … a Fatah supporter holds a poster of Yasser Arafat in Ramallah.
Photo: Reuters

Latest related coverage
Analysis: Military success creating bigger problems for Hamas
Advertisement
AdvertisementFOR 13 years the Fatah movement seemed in control of the Gaza Strip, its gunmen and security forces the visible muscle on the streets.

This week, in four days of largely nominal fighting in which at least 70 people have been killed, the entire structure of Fatah power in Gaza collapsed like a worm-eaten shed.

Confronted by the Islamic militant group Hamas, Palestinian security men supposedly loyal to Fatah chose - for the most part - to abandon their posts and go home.

By Wednesday afternoon, Fatah militant leader Samir al-Badhou, top of Hamas's wanted list and until days before one of the most feared men in Gaza, had fled his northern stronghold and was holed up beside the presidential compound on the coast.

Armed men from Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades milled in and outside the room, tense and agitated, bolting for the door when heavy gunfire erupted in the street outside. Badhou remained on his sofa, cradling an M16 and a Kalashnikov in either hand.

"Only a few points in Gaza City are still held by the security forces," he said tersely. "The Saraya [military headquarters], the police headquarters, the Preventive Security base and here. The rest of the Gaza Strip is all Hamas, except for the Preventive Security base in Khan Yunis." Then news came that the compound in Khan Yunis - home for Fatah's Gaza strongman, Mohammed Dahlan - had just fallen, following the detonation of a massive underground mine.

Hamas rockets and mortars were beginning to impact on the main Preventive Security base in Gaza City, isolated from remaining Fatah positions and the next step in Hamas's endgame.

"We could be next," Badhou said. "If they control the muntada [presidential compound] they'll control the whole of Gaza. But that's a big if. I don't believe they have the power to capture the muntada. They have been attacking us for a while, not only this time, with RPG 7s [rocket-propelled grenades] and mortars, but they are only testing us. There's been no attempt to invade."

He exploded when asked about a new Hamas ultimatum giving Fatah fighters in the area until 4pm to surrender their arms.

"What are we? Chickens?" he shouted. "We'll give Hamas until 3 o'clock to surrender!"

Wanted by Hamas for their alleged roles in a long-simmering blood feud, surrender is not an attractive option for Fatah leaders such as these.

Ziad Abu Jidyan, north Gaza commander of the Al Aqsa Brigades militia, was in civilian clothes and carried no weapons. He seemed more philosophical about their plight.



"Hamas controls all of Gaza, which means they can kill us all," he said. "But what is waiting for Hamas if they do take over Gaza? The Palestinians are not forgetful people. They punished Fatah for 12 or 13 years of corrupt rule by voting for Hamas last year. After the end of these clashes I think they will punish Hamas."

Outside, the deserted streets of Gaza City's upmarket southern suburbs rang with gunfire. Fatah loyalists, no longer in uniform, hugged the shelter of street corners and hastily built sandbagged emplacements, popping out now and then to deliver wild bursts of fire towards the Hamas stronghold in the neighbouring Islamic University.

From the roofs of surrounding high-rise buildings came the occasional crack of single shots as Hamas snipers returned fire. Later that evening, mortar and rocket fire resumed, and at the time of writing the Preventative Security compound was reported to be in Hamas's hands. Israeli radio reported that the remaining Fatah holdouts were appealing to Israel to evacuate them by sea.

In recent months the US, with Israel's agreement, had sought to use Dahlan as a counterweight against Hamas, funnelling him weapons, money and men.

The plan has disastrously backfired. Dahlan left Gaza weeks ago, after the Hamas-Fatah feuding intensified, and is now in Egypt, supposedly being treated for a knee injury.

In northern Gaza, Dahlan's staunchest remaining supporter, "Abu Maher" Abu Jidyan, brother of Ziad, was murdered on Tuesday, along with another brother when Hamas gunmen overran and burnt their home. The next day the dead men's sister, Hannan Odeh, stood in the charred ruins and wailed in her grief. "We blame Hamas for this. We blame [Hamas Prime Minister] Ismail Haniyeh," she said. "And we blame [Palestinian Authority President and Fatah leader] Abu Mazen. He doesn't have enough force to help his own people. He gives us no law and order."

At the mention of Dahlan she began to shriek. "Dahlan? Why didn't he send support to Abu Maher when he needed it? Abu Maher was his closest supporter and he left him to fight alone. He pretended he was a great friend but he did not help him."