The 2006 Gaza strip takeover by Hamas led to a de facto division of the Palestinian territories, with the Gaza Strip under Hamas control and the West Bank under the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority
The 2006 Gaza Strip takeover by Hamas resulted in a significant geopolitical shift, effectively creating a de facto division of the Palestinian territories. This division saw the Gaza Strip coming under the control of Hamas, an Islamist political and militant group, while the West Bank remained under the administration of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority. This split not only represented a physical partitioning of territories but also underscored a deep ideological and political divide between the two leading Palestinian factions. The consequences of this division were far-reaching, affecting the political unity among Palestinians, complicating the peace process with Israel, and leading to differing governance and economic conditions in the two territories. This schism has persisted, posing challenges to Palestinian national aspirations and the broader dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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Fast forward to 2006, and Hamas emerged victorious in Gaza’s elections against its rival, the Fatah party. It has been in control of Gaza since. No elections have been held thereafter and Hamas maintains political control.
Defense
Hamas is one of two major political forces in the Palestinian territories, the other being Fatah, which was previously known as the Palestinian National Liberation Movement. Fatah retains control of the Palestinian National Authority in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Defense
The schism between Abbas and Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza exploded in a bloody set of battles that saw Hamas violently wrest full control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, allegedly after the Bush administration tried to foment an anti-Hamas putsch in the territory.
Defense