Palestinians Fighting Palestinians.
The Fatah–Hamas conflict started on 25 January 2006, and is an ongoing issue, with the main phase happened during the Gaza Civil War in 2007.
The issue appeared to resolve on this main difference.
- Hamas denied recognition of Israel.
- Fatah were committed to upholding the Oslo Accords, a peace process signed by PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. (Recognition of Israel by the PLO and the recognition by Israel of the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and as a partner in bilateral negotiations.)
Tensions between Fatah and Hamas began to rise in 2005 after the death of Yasser Arafat in November 2004.
The Battle of Gaza was a brief civil war between Fatah and Hamas that took place in the Gaza Strip from 10 to 15 June 2007.
During this period Hamas fighters took control of the Gaza Strip, while Fatah officials were either taken as prisoners, executed, or expelled.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights reported that at least 161 people were killed and more than 700 were wounded during the fighting.
The Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens’ Rights has found that over 600 Palestinians were killed in the fighting from January 2006 to May 2007. Dozens more were killed or executed in the following years as part of the conflict.
The Palestinian Authority has been split into two polities, each seeing itself as the true representative of the Palestinian people – the Fatah-ruled Palestinian National Authority and the Hamas Government in Gaza.
Presidential elections for the Palestinian Authority were held in January 2005 following the death of Yasser Arafat. These were won by Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah) with 62.5% of the vote.
Mahmoud Abbas has supported the blockade of the Gaza Strip as a means of weakening Hamas. In 2010, Abbas declared that he opposed lifting the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip because this would bolster Hamas. Egypt also supported this position.
Legislative elections were held in the Palestinian territories on 25 January 2006.
The vote result was:
- 44.45% Change and Reform (Hamas)
- 41.43% Fatah
On 20 February 2006, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was nominated to form a new government.
No more elections have been held since 2006.
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