Governance of the Gaza Strip
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| حركة المقاومة الاسلامية Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya |
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| Anthem: Biladi |
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| Capital | Gaza | |||
| Official languages | Arabic | |||
| Government | de facto | |||
| - | Prime Minister | Ismail Haniyeh (de facto in GS) |
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| Currency | Israeli new sheqel (ILS) |
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| Time zone | (UTC+2) | |||
| - | Summer (DST) | (UTC+3) | ||
Since the 2007 battle for Gaza, the Gaza Strip has been controlled by Hamas, while Hamas' political and military rival, Fatah, controls the West Bank.[1] Subsequent to the Palestinian legislative election, 2006, both governments regard themselves as the sole legitimate Palestinian government.
[edit] History
On June 14, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the dissolution of the former unity government and declared a state of emergency. He dismissed Ismail Haniya as Prime Minister and appointed Salam Fayyad as the new one, giving him the task of building a new government.[2] Nonetheless, Ismail Haniya of the Hamas rejected the decree of Mahmoud Abbas and said his government would remain in office[1]and would claim authority over the entire Palestinian territories.
With Hamas being in control of the Gaza Strip and Fatah in control of the West Bank, there are de facto two Palestinian governments, both considering themselves to be the legitimate Palestinian National Authority government. Palestinian police chief Kamal el-Sheikh ordered his men in the Gaza Strip not to work or obey Hamas orders. Many Fatah members fled the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, and Fatah gunmen stormed Hamas-led institutions in the West Bank after the Battle of Gaza.[3][4]
Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian National Authority officially has no control in the Gaza Strip. Hamas and Fatah accused each other of a coup d'état; neither recognizes the authority of the other government.[1][5]
The United States, EU, and Israel have not recognized the Hamas government, but support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's government in the West Bank. The Arab League called on all parties to stop the fighting and return the government to its status before the Battle of Gaza, which would be the 2007 unity government and not the new PA government appointed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Although the US does not officially recognize the Hamas government, it holds it "fully and entirely responsible for the Gaza Strip," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.[4]
On June 16, 2007, Ismail Haniya declared Said Fanuna (officially a Fatah general who, in reality, distanced himself from Mahmoud Abbas) as the new security chief in the Gaza Strip, stating him as a "higher police command" than the West Bank-based police chief Kamal el-Sheikh of the Fatah.[3][6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Hamas controls Gaza, says it will stay in power. CNN. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ President Abbas prepares to swear in unelected interim government. Ma'an News Agency. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ a b Hundreds flee Hamas-run Gaza amid spillover fears (Page 3). Reuters. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ a b Fatah militants storm rival-held government buildings. CNN. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ Hundreds flee Hamas-run Gaza amid spillover fears (Page 1). Reuters. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
- ^ Kluft vertieft sich weiter (german). ORF. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
