Fatah–Hamas conflict facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fatah–Hamas conflict
Map of the Gaza Strip
Date 25 January 2006 – present (main phase in 2007) Location State of Palestine mainly Gaza Strip Status Ongoing, Reconciliation process: Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip New Palestinian government in the West Bank, appointed by Mahmoud Abbas Reconciliation agreement signed May 2011 Doha agreement signed 2012 Renewed political crisis in March–April 2012 Strong increase of tensions in 2013 Hamas and Fatah sign reconciliation deal in April 2014 Unity government sworn in during June 2014 Implementation of unity government control in Gaza due date
Belligerents
Hamas	Fatah Supported by:  United States (alleged)  United Kingdom (covert)
Commanders and leaders
Ismail Haniya Khaled Meshaal Mohammed Deif	Mahmoud Abbas Mohammed Dahlan
Strength
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades: 15,000 Executive Police Force: 6,000	National Security: 30,000 Preventive Security Service: 30,000 General Intelligence: 5,000 Presidential Guard: 4,200 Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade: Several thousand
Casualties and losses
83 killed	165 killed
98 civilians killed 1,000+ wounded on both sides Total: 350 to over 600 killed

The Fatah–Hamas conflict (Arabic: النزاع بين فتح وحماس, romanized: an-Nizāʿ bayna Fataḥ wa-Ḥamās) is an ongoing political and strategic conflict between Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian political parties in the Palestinian territories, leading to the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. The reconciliation process and unification of Hamas and Fatah administrations remains unfinalized and the situation is deemed a frozen conflict.

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.

Overview

Hamas was founded in 1987, soon after the First Intifada broke out, as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. It is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamist fundamentalist organization, which is regarded, either in whole or in part, as a terrorist organization by several countries and international organizations, including by Australia, Canada, the European Union, Israel, Japan, Paraguay, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Tensions between Fatah and Hamas began to rise in 2005 after the death of Yasser Arafat in November 2004. After the legislative election on 25 January 2006, which resulted in a Hamas victory, relations were marked by sporadic factional fighting. This became more intense after the two parties repeatedly failed to reach a deal to share government power, escalating in June 2007 and resulting in Hamas' takeover of Gaza. A major issue was control over the border crossings, especially the Rafah Border Crossing.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniya formed a new PA government on 29 March 2006 comprising mostly Hamas members. Fatah and other factions had refused to join, especially as Hamas refused to accept the Quartet's conditions, such as recognition of Israel and earlier agreements. As a result, a substantial part of the international community, especially Israel, the United States and European Union countries, refused to deal with the Hamas government and imposed sanctions. Following the abduction by Hamas militants of Gilad Shalit on 25 June 2006 in a cross-border raid via a tunnel out of Gaza, Israel detained nearly a quarter of PLC members and ministers on the West Bank during August 2006, intensified the boycott of Gaza and took other punitive measures.

Calls for the implementation of the Cairo Declaration, including the formation of a unity government and the cessation of violence between Fatah and Hamas, were made in the Fatah–Hamas Mecca Agreement of 8 February 2007. The Hamas government was replaced on 17 March 2007 by a national unity government headed by Haniya comprising Hamas and Fatah ministers. In June 2007, Hamas fighters took control of the Gaza Strip and removed all Fatah officials. President Abbas, on 14 June, declared a state of emergency, dismissed Haniyeh's national unity government and appointed an emergency government, and suspended articles of the Basic Law to circumvent the needed PNC approval.

Hamas has been the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip since its takeover in June 2007. Since then, it has fought several wars with Israel, and 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.

See also

• Black September
• Hamastan