Hamas' takeover of Gaza
| Battle of Gaza | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Fatah–Hamas conflict | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Hamas
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 Fatah
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 120 combatants 39 civilians 2 UN personnel |
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The Battle of Gaza, also referred to as Hamas' takeover of Gaza, was a military conflict between Fatah and Hamas, that took place in the Gaza Strip between the June 10 and 15, 2007. It was a climax in the Fatah–Hamas conflict, centered on the struggle for power, after Fatah lost the parliamentary elections of 2006. Hamas fighters took control of the Gaza Strip and removed Fatah officials. The battle resulted in the dissolution of the unity government and the de facto division of the Palestinian territories into two entities, the West Bank governed by the Palestinian National Authority, and Gaza governed by Hamas.
The ICRC estimated that at least 118 people were killed and more than 550 wounded during the fighting in the week up to 15 June.
The conflict between Fatah and Hamas had been simmering since Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006. After Hamas' victory, Fatah refused to join a grand coalition.
Mahmoud Abbas was under pressure by the international community, who considered Hamas' unacceptable as it was perceived to undermine decades of international efforts to secure a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Therefore, the international community decided to boycott the Hamas-led government by severing diplomatic ties and halting financial aid until Hamas would fulfill certain conditions. It was suggested that Abbas could use his constitutional powers to dismiss the government and call for new elections, which were intended to yield a different result and reinstall Fatah in power on the grounds that the Palestinian electorate would perceive Hamas as a failure.
On 30 January 2006, the Quartet (United States, Russia, United Nations, and European Union) predicated future foreign assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) on the future government's commitment to non-violence, recognition of the State of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements. Hamas rejected these demands, establishing the Palestinian government of March 2006, which resulted in the Quartet suspension of its foreign assistance program, and Israel imposed economic sanctions. The US and Israel attempted to undermine Hamas and force it from power while strengthening the position of President Abbas.
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