In spite of the Calmness, the security situation in Gaza started to deteriorate as a result of operations by some groups against private and public institutions from Hamas. For example an explosion in a café in Gaza City on 24/7/2008, where the person who carried out the bombing was killed (it was said that he was an Islamic militant), in addition to the explosion at the entrance of the house of parliament member Dr. Marwan AbuRass, representing the Hamas movement, on the early morning of 25/7/2008. Hamas claimed that it had arrested the ones who caused the explosions and the persons who assisted them, claiming that Fatah activists were involved.
The most serious and dangerous of operations against Hamas was the assassination of a group of Qassam Brigades persons of Hamas, at the seashore on 25/7/2008 evening. Their parked car exploded the minute they wanted to open the doors, killing 5 in addition to a six years old child girl and wounding at least 22 citizens.
Hamas claimed Fatah movement responsibility in all previous operations and immediately started a wide range process against many institutions belonging to Fatah and civil society organizations by confiscating equipment, furniture, other devices, and vandalizing the buildings of such institutions. These organizations included sport clubs and clinics. Hamas also took control of the 5 Governorates of Gaza by deposing their governors and appointing new Hamas Governors, even though governors and governorates are attached directly to the President's office. Also Hamas arrested many Fatah members in Gaza, despite categorical denials from the Fatah movement (at the highest levels) that they didn't have any involvement in the bombings.
According to the Mizan Center For Human Rights (on 27/7/2008 and 31/7/2008), the number of centers and institutions which had been targeted by Hamas until 27/7/2008 was 173. Among them 33 belonged to Fatah and the rest (140) belonged to civil society organizations. The number of detained Fatah members and other civilians was 153 - a direct reaction to the attack against the Qassam members.
On 2/8/2008 Hamas security and its executive forces sieged the Shajaeyya quarter, claiming that some of the wanted Fatah activists were given shelter there, by a large clan called Hilles, headed by an active high Fatah leader, Ahmed Hilles - AbuMaher.
A big incursion in Shajaeyya quarter, using machineguns, missiles, and heavy weaponry, resulting in the following:
• During the invasion, 8 persons of the Hilles family were killed, in addition to one citizen of another family. 2 officers from Hamas security forces also died during the attack. Another 4 injured persons from the Hilles family died in the hospital (a total of 15 victims).
• 100 people were wounded from both sides, some of them seriously (ICHR Human Rights report, August 2008).
• 180 Hilles activists had been arrested and blindfolded by the soldiers of the Ministry of Interior of the Deposed Hamas Government.
• 150 Hilles activists (fighters) fled to the Israeli side (Nahal Oz border crossing) and surrendered to the Israeli army, for fear of being arrested by Hamas forces. (These actions had been facilitated by the request of President Mahmoud Abbas to Israeli Defense Minister Barak). Israel returned 32 people, for them to be arrested by Hamas security forces, and sent 87 persons to Jericho in the West Bank, keeping their leader Ahmed Hilles, who was wounded during the invasion, in Israel for further interrogation. He had been freed and sent to Jericho in the West Bank on 24/9/008 – Voice of Israel.
• Some of the fled persons remained at the border between Gaza and Israel, waiting for the approval of Israel to move to the West bank, while they are afraid to go back to Gaza, fearing they will be arrested by Hamas.
The minister of interior Sa’eid Siam, declared at the end of the day that the attack on the Hilles family was essential, in order to arrest several wanted Fatah persons, accused because of the bombings in Gaza, including the sea shore incident on 25/7/2008. He added that Shajaeyya quarter will still be under siege (meaning no people are allowed in nor out, except for Hamas security forces) for at least 3 days to enable the security Hamas forces to inspect every house and every place for weapons, artillery, and wanted persons.
In the night of 31/7-1/8, the Hamas Authorities in Gaza arrested more high level personalities from PLO and Fatah, including:
• Dr. Zakareyya Agha; Fatah leader and member of the PLO executive committee (released on 4/8/2008).
• Mr. Ibrahim AbuElNaja; Fatah leader (released after 2 days)
• Mr. Mohammed AlQudwa; Gaza Governor (released on 28/9/2008)
• Mr. Abdullah AbuSamhadana; Middle Camps Area governor (released on 7/8/2008 with 150 Fatah activists, coinciding with the reopening of 20 NGOs as a gesture from Dr. Ahmed Bahar (Vice Chairman of PLC) as stated by Hamas.)
• Dr. Usama AlFarra; Khan Younis Governor. He was given 3 days vacation from prison to spend with his family during the feast (Eid-El-Fitr) 29-30/9 and 1/10/2008, but he didn’t go back until the date of the report.
• Dr. Hazem AbuShanab; Fatah Spokesman in Gaza (released on 28/9/2008).
• All main regional Fatah leaders in the 5 Governorates of the Gaza Strip (still imprisoned).
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri stated on 1/8/2008 to Al-Jazeera TV that the arrests had been made in reaction to the similar arrests on the West Bank against Hamas activists. Mr. AbuZuhri added that the minute Hamas activists would be freed in the West Bank, as President Mahmoud Abbas had declared, the Hamas Authorities in Gaza would do the same.
On 28/9/2008 Hamas released 30 Fatah activists as a good gesture from the deposed Hamas government, on the occasion of the Muslim feast (Eid-El-Fit). Hamas expected the same step to be taken by the PA in Ramallah, to free Hamas activists there.
As a reciprocal step, a PA high security official stated on 1/10/2008 that PA authorities upon a request from President Mahmoud Abbas, freed 38 Hamas activists on the West bank because of the feast (as published by www.palpress.ps on 1/10/2008).
One Hamas leader in a private meeting stated that there are still 300 Fatah activists in Hamas security centers in Gaza (This was before the strikes announced by the employees of both the Ministry of Education (on 28/8/2008) and Ministry of Health (on 30/8/2008) in Gaza).
The briefing from the International Crisis Group on 11/9/2008, describes the events that saw Hamas battle and bring to heel one of Gaza’s most potent families. It also showed how the Islamist movement had been turning the territory into a model of internal security and bureaucratic consolidation.
“Hamas’s takeover of Gaza is increasingly complete, and both it and Fatah seem intent on consolidating their gains. The crisis of the Palestinian national movement is only worsening”, says Robert Blecher, Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. “Palestinians are fed up with the feuding and many are looking for a way out. But they find none”.
The scenario of the assault on the Hilles clan had been repeated with another large clan in Gaza, called Doghmosh. On 15/9/2008 two Hamas security persons went to arrest a wanted person of the Doghmosh family while he was at the Gaza Municipality office but he escaped, leaving one of the guards killed and injuring the other. Hamas security forces went to search for him, carrying out a big raid on the whole area where the family lived, in order to arrest the suspect, in addition to other wanted Doghmosh family members. An eye witness living adjacent to the area where the Doghmosh family lives, stated that both sides used dozens of missiles and heavy machine guns in a big battle, which lasted up to the morning of the next day (16/9/2008). Eventually the wanted man was killed, and so where 3 of his brothers, in addition to six other members of the family, which Hamas authorities declared wanted. A baby girl was among the Doghmosh family victims and so was one policeman. A total of 12 persons had been killed, among them 9 of the Doghmosh family, one person living in the same area, and 2 police men.
40 persons were injured from both sides, as declared by Islam Shahwan (Police forces spokesperson), who added that the raid was a successful one. The raid ended on 16/9/2008 in the morning and was not supposed to include the whole Doghmosh family, but it was addressed only to the wanted persons of the family (the police forces spokesperson didn’t mention the number of killed persons or injured from Doghmosh family , also he didn’t mention the number of people arrested in the raid (Ma’an news & Al-Quds daily on 16/9/2008).
Aldameer Human Rights center in Gaza (on 16/9/2008) as well as The Independent commission for Human Rights (on 17/9/208), made separate declarations asking for a full investigation of the raid, claiming that Hamas security forces used excessive and deadly force against the family, while they were also able to arrest them and take them to court.
It is well known that the chief of the family (Mumtaz Doghmosh) is the head of a Palestinian armed faction called “The Islam Army”. Such faction participated with Hamas in the operation in which the Israeli soldier Gila'ad Shalit was captured on 25/6/2006, and the same faction was responsible for kidnapping foreigners, of whom the latest was Reuters reporter Alan Johnston. He was however freed by Hamas, just after the takeover of mid-June 2007. A press statement from The Islam Army claimed that 6 people from the Doghmosh family who were active members of the Army died in the raid. Most of the reporters considered “The Islam Army” as a faction close to Al-Qaeda.
The most serious and dangerous of operations against Hamas was the assassination of a group of Qassam Brigades persons of Hamas, at the seashore on 25/7/2008 evening. Their parked car exploded the minute they wanted to open the doors, killing 5 in addition to a six years old child girl and wounding at least 22 citizens.
Hamas claimed Fatah movement responsibility in all previous operations and immediately started a wide range process against many institutions belonging to Fatah and civil society organizations by confiscating equipment, furniture, other devices, and vandalizing the buildings of such institutions. These organizations included sport clubs and clinics. Hamas also took control of the 5 Governorates of Gaza by deposing their governors and appointing new Hamas Governors, even though governors and governorates are attached directly to the President's office. Also Hamas arrested many Fatah members in Gaza, despite categorical denials from the Fatah movement (at the highest levels) that they didn't have any involvement in the bombings.
According to the Mizan Center For Human Rights (on 27/7/2008 and 31/7/2008), the number of centers and institutions which had been targeted by Hamas until 27/7/2008 was 173. Among them 33 belonged to Fatah and the rest (140) belonged to civil society organizations. The number of detained Fatah members and other civilians was 153 - a direct reaction to the attack against the Qassam members.
On 2/8/2008 Hamas security and its executive forces sieged the Shajaeyya quarter, claiming that some of the wanted Fatah activists were given shelter there, by a large clan called Hilles, headed by an active high Fatah leader, Ahmed Hilles - AbuMaher.
A big incursion in Shajaeyya quarter, using machineguns, missiles, and heavy weaponry, resulting in the following:
• During the invasion, 8 persons of the Hilles family were killed, in addition to one citizen of another family. 2 officers from Hamas security forces also died during the attack. Another 4 injured persons from the Hilles family died in the hospital (a total of 15 victims).
• 100 people were wounded from both sides, some of them seriously (ICHR Human Rights report, August 2008).
• 180 Hilles activists had been arrested and blindfolded by the soldiers of the Ministry of Interior of the Deposed Hamas Government.
• 150 Hilles activists (fighters) fled to the Israeli side (Nahal Oz border crossing) and surrendered to the Israeli army, for fear of being arrested by Hamas forces. (These actions had been facilitated by the request of President Mahmoud Abbas to Israeli Defense Minister Barak). Israel returned 32 people, for them to be arrested by Hamas security forces, and sent 87 persons to Jericho in the West Bank, keeping their leader Ahmed Hilles, who was wounded during the invasion, in Israel for further interrogation. He had been freed and sent to Jericho in the West Bank on 24/9/008 – Voice of Israel.
• Some of the fled persons remained at the border between Gaza and Israel, waiting for the approval of Israel to move to the West bank, while they are afraid to go back to Gaza, fearing they will be arrested by Hamas.
The minister of interior Sa’eid Siam, declared at the end of the day that the attack on the Hilles family was essential, in order to arrest several wanted Fatah persons, accused because of the bombings in Gaza, including the sea shore incident on 25/7/2008. He added that Shajaeyya quarter will still be under siege (meaning no people are allowed in nor out, except for Hamas security forces) for at least 3 days to enable the security Hamas forces to inspect every house and every place for weapons, artillery, and wanted persons.
In the night of 31/7-1/8, the Hamas Authorities in Gaza arrested more high level personalities from PLO and Fatah, including:
• Dr. Zakareyya Agha; Fatah leader and member of the PLO executive committee (released on 4/8/2008).
• Mr. Ibrahim AbuElNaja; Fatah leader (released after 2 days)
• Mr. Mohammed AlQudwa; Gaza Governor (released on 28/9/2008)
• Mr. Abdullah AbuSamhadana; Middle Camps Area governor (released on 7/8/2008 with 150 Fatah activists, coinciding with the reopening of 20 NGOs as a gesture from Dr. Ahmed Bahar (Vice Chairman of PLC) as stated by Hamas.)
• Dr. Usama AlFarra; Khan Younis Governor. He was given 3 days vacation from prison to spend with his family during the feast (Eid-El-Fitr) 29-30/9 and 1/10/2008, but he didn’t go back until the date of the report.
• Dr. Hazem AbuShanab; Fatah Spokesman in Gaza (released on 28/9/2008).
• All main regional Fatah leaders in the 5 Governorates of the Gaza Strip (still imprisoned).
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri stated on 1/8/2008 to Al-Jazeera TV that the arrests had been made in reaction to the similar arrests on the West Bank against Hamas activists. Mr. AbuZuhri added that the minute Hamas activists would be freed in the West Bank, as President Mahmoud Abbas had declared, the Hamas Authorities in Gaza would do the same.
On 28/9/2008 Hamas released 30 Fatah activists as a good gesture from the deposed Hamas government, on the occasion of the Muslim feast (Eid-El-Fit). Hamas expected the same step to be taken by the PA in Ramallah, to free Hamas activists there.
As a reciprocal step, a PA high security official stated on 1/10/2008 that PA authorities upon a request from President Mahmoud Abbas, freed 38 Hamas activists on the West bank because of the feast (as published by www.palpress.ps on 1/10/2008).
One Hamas leader in a private meeting stated that there are still 300 Fatah activists in Hamas security centers in Gaza (This was before the strikes announced by the employees of both the Ministry of Education (on 28/8/2008) and Ministry of Health (on 30/8/2008) in Gaza).
The briefing from the International Crisis Group on 11/9/2008, describes the events that saw Hamas battle and bring to heel one of Gaza’s most potent families. It also showed how the Islamist movement had been turning the territory into a model of internal security and bureaucratic consolidation.
“Hamas’s takeover of Gaza is increasingly complete, and both it and Fatah seem intent on consolidating their gains. The crisis of the Palestinian national movement is only worsening”, says Robert Blecher, Crisis Group’s Senior Analyst for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. “Palestinians are fed up with the feuding and many are looking for a way out. But they find none”.
The scenario of the assault on the Hilles clan had been repeated with another large clan in Gaza, called Doghmosh. On 15/9/2008 two Hamas security persons went to arrest a wanted person of the Doghmosh family while he was at the Gaza Municipality office but he escaped, leaving one of the guards killed and injuring the other. Hamas security forces went to search for him, carrying out a big raid on the whole area where the family lived, in order to arrest the suspect, in addition to other wanted Doghmosh family members. An eye witness living adjacent to the area where the Doghmosh family lives, stated that both sides used dozens of missiles and heavy machine guns in a big battle, which lasted up to the morning of the next day (16/9/2008). Eventually the wanted man was killed, and so where 3 of his brothers, in addition to six other members of the family, which Hamas authorities declared wanted. A baby girl was among the Doghmosh family victims and so was one policeman. A total of 12 persons had been killed, among them 9 of the Doghmosh family, one person living in the same area, and 2 police men.
40 persons were injured from both sides, as declared by Islam Shahwan (Police forces spokesperson), who added that the raid was a successful one. The raid ended on 16/9/2008 in the morning and was not supposed to include the whole Doghmosh family, but it was addressed only to the wanted persons of the family (the police forces spokesperson didn’t mention the number of killed persons or injured from Doghmosh family , also he didn’t mention the number of people arrested in the raid (Ma’an news & Al-Quds daily on 16/9/2008).
Aldameer Human Rights center in Gaza (on 16/9/2008) as well as The Independent commission for Human Rights (on 17/9/208), made separate declarations asking for a full investigation of the raid, claiming that Hamas security forces used excessive and deadly force against the family, while they were also able to arrest them and take them to court.
It is well known that the chief of the family (Mumtaz Doghmosh) is the head of a Palestinian armed faction called “The Islam Army”. Such faction participated with Hamas in the operation in which the Israeli soldier Gila'ad Shalit was captured on 25/6/2006, and the same faction was responsible for kidnapping foreigners, of whom the latest was Reuters reporter Alan Johnston. He was however freed by Hamas, just after the takeover of mid-June 2007. A press statement from The Islam Army claimed that 6 people from the Doghmosh family who were active members of the Army died in the raid. Most of the reporters considered “The Islam Army” as a faction close to Al-Qaeda.
