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Hamas captures Fatah security HQ Hamas hails 'liberation' of Gaza
(10 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 hailed a series of military victories over rivals Fatah in the Gaza Strip as a new "liberation" of the territory.
At least 14 Palestinians died in the battle for the compound in Gaza City. Fighters seized Fatah's Preventative Security building in Gaza City, the intelligence service headquarters, and overran the town of Rafah.
Hamas also seized control of the town of Rafah as it targeted security and political command centres across Gaza. A least 20 Palestinians died as the latest battles raged throughout Gaza.
Meanwhile, the top Palestinian umbrella group, the PLO, has recommended that the unity government be dissolved and a state of emergency declared. The top Palestinian umbrella group, the PLO, urged Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to declare a state of emergency.
The recommendation by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) followed a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and senior Fatah members. The PLO met Mr Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority and the head of Fatah, and recommended dissolving the three-month-old government of national unity.
What happened today in the Preventive Security headquarters was the second liberation of the Gaza Strip Sami Abu ZuhriHamas spokesman Gaza medics speak out The three-month-old national unity government was formed in an attempt to end the violence between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions. What happened today in the Preventive Security headquarters was the second liberation of the Gaza Strip Sami Abu ZuhriHamas spokesman Gaza medics speak out That 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, who is due to make a statement in the next few hours, appears to have no easy options open to him.
Mr Abbas is expected to make a statement within the next few hours. The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in Ramallah in the West Bank, says that while the situation is fairly calm there, Mr Abbas now has little control over Gaza and could have major problems implementing any emergency rule.
The EU and US voiced international concern, with the EU suspending aid operations in Gaza in response to "suicidal" violence.
There were also reports that at least four young Palestinians were killed by an explosion in Rafah.
Israel denied its forces had fired in the area, the Associated Press reported.
Gun battlesGun 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. Throughout Thursday Hamas fighters targeted four key security and intelligence compounds in and around Gaza City.
There were scenes of looting and celebration from Hamas troops as they seized control of the Preventative Security and Gaza's intelligence headquarters.
Rivals: Fatah and HamasRivals: 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. Outside the Preventative Security building Fatah men stripped to the waist were led from the building by the victors.
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. The AP reported that several men were shot and killed in plain sight, while a Hamas TV station showed pictures of 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 Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, said: "What happened today in the Preventive Security headquarters was the second liberation of the Gaza Strip," referring to the Israeli withdrawal of troops and settlers in 2005.
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. Earlier this week, 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.
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.
Truce conditionsTruce 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.
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 commentsWithout 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 made a series of demands, including 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:
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