This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6751079.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Hamas 'tightening grip' on Gaza | Hamas 'tightening grip' on Gaza |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Heavy fighting is continuing between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah in Gaza, with reports Hamas now controls almost the whole Gaza Strip. | Heavy fighting is continuing between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah in Gaza, with reports Hamas now controls almost the whole Gaza Strip. |
| It comes despite the two sides saying they had agreed to a truce to end days of fighting which has killed 80 people. | It comes despite the two sides saying they had agreed to a truce to end days of fighting which has killed 80 people. |
| But Hamas's military wing says it has so far received no orders to put down its guns. | But Hamas's military wing says it has so far received no orders to put down its guns. |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, is to make a statement on the future of the unity government. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, is to make a statement on the future of the unity government. |
| Sources close to Mr Abbas told the BBC he is deciding whether to change the Palestinian cabinet or dismiss it altogether, thereby ending the three-month-old unity government that was meant to stop the violence. | Sources close to Mr Abbas told the BBC he is deciding whether to change the Palestinian cabinet or dismiss it altogether, thereby ending the three-month-old unity government that was meant to stop the violence. |
| Gun battles | Gun battles |
| Hamas militants are now targeting Fatah's security and political command centres in Gaza City, following a series of battles on Wednesday in which Hamas made important gains in the north and south. | |
| Rivals: Fatah and Hamas | Rivals: Fatah and Hamas |
| There has been fierce fighting around the headquarters of the internal security agency in Gaza, with Hamas firing dozens of rocket-propelled grenades. | There has been fierce fighting around the headquarters of the internal security agency in Gaza, with Hamas firing dozens of rocket-propelled grenades. |
| Another key security headquarters, the National Security building, also came under a barrage of mortar shells overnight. | Another key security headquarters, the National Security building, also came under a barrage of mortar shells overnight. |
| In other parts of the Gaza Strip, Fatah forces blew up key positions rather than surrender them, according to AP news agency. | In other parts of the Gaza Strip, Fatah forces blew up key positions rather than surrender them, according to AP news agency. |
| Hamas has 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. | Hamas has 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 |
| At least 17 people were reported killed in fighting on Wednesday, with 80 reported to have died since Saturday. | At least 17 people were reported killed in fighting on Wednesday, with 80 reported to have died since Saturday. |
| Mr Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, issued a statement on Wednesday, calling on all sides to halt the fighting. | Mr Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, issued a statement on Wednesday, calling on all sides to halt the fighting. |
| A senior Fatah official told the BBC that it had agreed to a list of conditions from Hamas for a truce, including appointing an interior minister responsible for all Palestinian security forces, and shared control of Gaza's boundaries and borders. | A senior Fatah official told the BBC that it had agreed to a list of conditions from Hamas for a truce, including appointing an interior minister responsible for all Palestinian security forces, and shared control of Gaza's boundaries and borders. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Fatah said it had accepted the conditions in principle, but that more dialogue between the two sides was needed. | Fatah said it had accepted the conditions in principle, but that more dialogue between the two sides was needed. |
| A truce agreed on Monday was quickly broken and fighting escalated across northern Gaza. | A truce agreed on Monday was quickly broken and fighting escalated across northern Gaza. |
| Fatah and Hamas agreed a unity government in March to bring an end to factional strife and Western sanctions, but it has not stopped the rivalry. | Fatah and Hamas agreed a unity government in March to bring an end to factional strife and Western sanctions, but it has not stopped the rivalry. |
| Analysts say that if the fighting is not checked, Palestinians could be split into a Fatah-controlled West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. | Analysts say that if the fighting is not checked, Palestinians could be split into a Fatah-controlled 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: |