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| Hamas captures Fatah security HQ | Hamas captures Fatah security HQ |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Hamas militants have seized the headquarters of their rival Fatah's Preventive Security force, tightening their control over the Gaza Strip. | Hamas militants have seized the headquarters of their rival Fatah's Preventive Security force, tightening their control over the Gaza Strip. |
| At least 14 Palestinians died in the battle for the compound in Gaza City. | |
| Hamas also seized control of the town of Rafah as it targeted security and political command centres across Gaza. | |
| Meanwhile, the top Palestinian umbrella group, the PLO, has recommended that the unity government be dissolved and a state of emergency declared. | Meanwhile, the top Palestinian umbrella group, the PLO, has recommended that the unity government be dissolved and a state of emergency declared. |
| The recommendation by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) followed a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and senior Fatah members. | The recommendation by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) followed a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and senior Fatah members. |
| The three-month-old national unity government was formed in an attempt to end the violence between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions. | The three-month-old national unity government was formed in an attempt to end the violence between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions. |
| The BBC's Tim Franks in Ramallah says Mr Abbas has no easy options open to him. | |
| Mr Abbas is expected to make a statement within the next few hours. | Mr Abbas is expected to make a statement within the next few hours. |
| Gun battles | Gun battles |
| Hamas is reported to now control almost the entire Gaza Strip, following five days of intense factional fighting in which at least 80 people have been killed. | Hamas is reported to now control almost the entire Gaza Strip, following five days of intense factional fighting in which at least 80 people have been killed. |
| Rivals: Fatah and Hamas | Rivals: Fatah and Hamas |
| Hamas militants are targeting Fatah's security and political command centres, following a series of battles on Wednesday in which Hamas made significant gains in the north and south. | Hamas militants are targeting Fatah's security and political command centres, following a series of battles on Wednesday in which Hamas made significant gains in the north and south. |
| Fatah denied the Preventative Security force headquarters had fallen, but a Hamas television station showed pictures of Hamas militants tramping triumphantly through the ransacked HQ. | Fatah denied the Preventative Security force headquarters had fallen, but a Hamas television station showed pictures of Hamas militants tramping triumphantly through the ransacked HQ. |
| Hamas later demanded that Fatah abandon another key security post, the National Security complex in Gaza City, by mid-afternoon. | |
| A spokesman for the group, Sami Abu Zuhri, described the day's events as "the second liberation of the Gaza Strip", following Israel's withdrawal of troops and settlers in 2005. | |
| In other parts of the Gaza Strip, Fatah forces blew up key positions rather than surrender them, according to the AP news agency. | |
| In the southern town of Rafah, by the border with Egypt, Hamas fighters seized control of Fatah security positions and took control of the town. | |
| Earlier, Hamas issued an ultimatum to Fatah militants in Gaza to lay down their weapons by 1600 GMT on Friday or risk having them taken from them. | Earlier, Hamas issued an ultimatum to Fatah militants in Gaza to lay down their weapons by 1600 GMT on Friday or risk having them taken from them. |
| Truce conditions | Truce conditions |
| Thursday's fighting came despite a call from Mr Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, for all sides to halt the fighting. | Thursday's fighting came despite a call from Mr Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, for all sides to halt the fighting. |
| Our correspondent says that for the time being in Gaza, Hamas firmly has the upper hand. | Our correspondent says that for the time being in Gaza, Hamas firmly has the upper hand. |
| Without a ceasefire and stopping of the fighting I think the situation will collapse in Gaza Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza residents talk In pictures: Gaza fighting Send us your comments | Without a ceasefire and stopping of the fighting I think the situation will collapse in Gaza Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza residents talk In pictures: Gaza fighting Send us your comments |
| The Islamist movement has laid a series of demands on the table which it says Fatah has to agree to if there is to be peace and if the two parties are to continue to govern together. | The Islamist movement has laid a series of demands on the table which it says Fatah has to agree to if there is to be peace and if the two parties are to continue to govern together. |
| The conditions include appointing an interior minister responsible for all Palestinian security forces and shared control of Gaza's boundaries and borders. | The conditions include appointing an interior minister responsible for all Palestinian security forces and shared control of Gaza's boundaries and borders. |
| Analysts say that if the fighting is not checked, Palestinians could be split into a Fatah-dominated West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. | Analysts say that if the fighting is not checked, Palestinians could be split into a Fatah-dominated West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. |
| The international community has called for a ceasefire, and Arab League head Amr Moussa said the fighting was destroying the Palestinian cause. | The international community has called for a ceasefire, and Arab League head Amr Moussa said the fighting was destroying the Palestinian cause. |
| Are you in Gaza? Have you been caught up in the violence? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in Gaza? Have you been caught up in the violence? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |