Fatah's losing Gaza

NY Times:

President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah faced the further collapse of his power in Gaza today as fierce fighting continued and Hamas fighters took over the headquarters of Fatah’s Preventive Security forces in Gaza City.

Aides to Mr. Abbas say he is expected to announce an “important decision” later today. He is under pressure from within Fatah and from his Western allies to suspend participation in the so-called unity government with Hamas, which began in March, or to declare a full state of emergency.

Hamas forces consolidated their control over much of Gaza on Wednesday, taking command of the main north-south road and blowing up a Fatah headquarters in Khan Yunis, in the south.

By Wednesday, Hamas controlled Gaza City except for several areas, including the presidential compound of Mr. Abbas and the Suraya headquarters of the National Security Forces, the Palestinian army. Hamas had surrounded Al Suraya, calling on the occupants to surrender.

Today, Hamas tightened its grip further by capturing the headquarters of the Fatah-dominated Preventive Security forces, in the Tal el-Hawa district of Gaza City.

The fall of that headquarters would have powerful resonance for both Fatah and Hamas. Preventive Security is an elite national security force that was founded by Mohammed Dahlan, a Fatah strongman, and was considered to be one of the most important Fatah forces in Gaza.

By Wednesday, in northern Gaza and Gaza City, Hamas military men, many of them in black masks, moved unchallenged through the streets as Fatah fighters ran short of arms and ammunition and abandoned their posts.

The powerful Hamas move to exert authority in Gaza, and the poor performance and motivation of the larger security forces supposedly loyal to Fatah, raised troubling questions for Mr. Abbas and Israel, and left the White House with a dwindling menu of policy options.

Mr. Abbas faces a putative Palestinian state divided into a West Bank run by Fatah and a Gaza run by Hamas.

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There is an opportunity here. If Israel, the US and Fatah can strike a deal and make the West Bank a much more attractive environment, they can discredit Hamas and the Iranians who support their misrule in Gaza. If Fatah pulls completely out of Gaza, the area can be further isolated and cut off from outside funding.