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Palestinian Government Falls

Abbas declares state of emergency following Hamas takeover of Gaza

By Sophie Goldstein,  Newser User

Posted Jun 14, 2007 5:56 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Hamas is in control of the Gaza strip this evening and Palestine's unity government dissolved, in what the moderate Fatah party is calling a coup d'etat. President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency in both the West Bank and Gaza, where the hard-line Islamic group seized control of the presidential compound at midnight (5 pm EST).

The state of emergency gives Abbas power to replace the Hamas-lead government with members of his own party, and to consolidate control over the West Bank, which Hamas has not yet captured. But many fear that today's developments end even the most remote possibility of peace in the region. The US says it backs Abbas; the EU has already pulled its relief workers from the area, and announced the suspension of $112 million in aid. 

Palestinian militants from Hamas stand in front of the preventive security headquarters after they captured it from Fatah loyalist security forces in Gaza City, Thursday, June 14, 2007. Hamas fighters overran one of the rival Fatah movement's most important security installations in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, and witnesses said...
Palestinian militants from Hamas stand in front of the preventive security headquarters after they captured it from Fatah loyalist security forces in Gaza City, Thursday, June 14, 2007. Hamas fighters...   (Associated Press)
Hamas militants celebrate next to a burning building at the headquarters of the Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas after capturing it in fighting in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip Thursday, June 14, 2007. Hamas overran two of the rival Fatah movement's most important security installations in the Gaza...
Hamas militants celebrate next to a burning building at the headquarters of the Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas after capturing it in fighting in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip...   (Associated Press)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, heads a meeting of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, June 14, 2007. Abbas on Thursday declared a state of emergency, fired Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, dismantled...
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, heads a meeting of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee at his office in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday,...   (Associated Press)
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Palestinian Authority • Gaza • Mahmoud Abbas • Palestine • Hamas • Fatah • Palestinian civil war • West Bank

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