Gaza clashes

The situation in Gaza has escalated into serious clashes between the PA
police, in some cases aided by Fatah factions, and Hamas. On Sunday, in the
Sheikh Redwan neighborhood of Gaza City, a clash broke out between Hamas
gunmen and the police that escalated when they tried to detain Mohammed
Rantisi, the son of the former leader of Hamas who was killed by Israel.
This then led to Hamas assaulting the police station during which the deputy
chief of police there was killed, as well as another policeman and a young
girl.
In another clash, a mob developed that came out in defense of Hamas and
threw stones at the police and forced them to withdraw and then they torched
the Shati camp police station and several police cars. In another clash
that involved taxi drivers, who were blocking a road to protest against
higher gasoline prices, an al Aksa Brigades patrol shot its way through, but
they were also attacked by a mob supporting the taxi drivers.
On Monday, a group of ca. 40 armed policemen broke into the Palestinian
Parliament building in Gaza to protest that they had not been given enough
support by the PA. They complained that their police chief had been killed
and that they had run out of bullets in the clash with Hamas.
This all stemmed from the order by PA Pres. Abbas that armed gunmen would
not be allowed in public in Gaza or the West Bank, and the counter-statement
by Hamas that they regarded this order as being directed against them and
they would not abide by it. A supporting statement was issued by Hamas
headquarters in Damascus against Abbas, who they accused of acting on behalf
of the US and Britain. In the face of the unrest, Abbas' office issued a
statement admitting the clashes and stating that the PA police would uphold
the law, and extra police were deployed throughout Gaza City especially to
protect all police stations.
The Egyptians sent in mediators to bring calm to Gaza, and they helped to
separate the forces. However, the long term consequences cannot be
foreseen because the possibility of a civil war between the combined PA and
Fatah forces on the one hand and Hamas and IJ on the other cannot be ruled
out. It is most likely to happen sooner rather than later, but it is likely
to boil for a while.
Israel is taking a hands off approach to this situation, although of course
both Israel and the US have been calling for Abbas to crack down on the
terrorists, specifically Hamas, for some time, and argue that he is required
to do so by his acceptance of the Road Map agreement. Whether or not he
will choose this moment to do so, or once again will back down in order to
avoid a civil war remains to be seen. If he hasn't planned for this
eventuality then he is really in trouble.