For years, Hamas had been the weaker militant group compared to Arafat?s Fatah Party . Over the years its social, medical, and educational networks have kept many Palestinian families alive and have provided the assistance that the Palestinian National Authority?s (PNA) corrupt government should have been providing. The goal of Hamas has long been to bide its time until there was an opportunity for it to emerge out of the shadows of Fatah and take control of the Territories. With the death of Yasser Arafat (Intel Report) and a divided and weak PNA, Hamas emerged in 2004 and contested the local elections, surprising everyone in how many seats they won.

Hamas seeks to gain more control in Gaza and to position itself as the leader of the Palestinian people. Last week, when Hamas operatives fired mortars and missiles into Israel and the settlements, the leadership of the PNA had had enough. Police and armed Fatah members were ordered to send a message to Hamas in their Jabaliya stronghold (see photo, courtesy of Interet-General.info). Officers and Fatah members torched Hamas vehicles and an office. When an armored security vehicle was dispatched to stop the missile attacks, Hamas destroyed the vehicle and sent its operatives to burn a police station and four police vehicles in Gaza City.