Governance of the Gaza Strip

Infobox Country or territory
native_name = حركة المقاومة الاسلامية "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya"
conventional_long_name =
common_name =

---

symbol_type = Emblem


national_anthem = "Biladi"
official_languages = Arabic
capital = Gaza
government_type = de facto
leader_title1 = Prime Minister
leader_name1 = Ismail Haniyeh
(de facto in GS)
currency = Israeli new sheqel
currency_code = ILS
country_code = PLE
time_zone =
utc_offset = +2
time_zone_DST =
utc_offset_DST = +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.cite web | title = Hamas controls Gaza, says it will stay in power | publisher = CNN
url = http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/14/gaza/index.html| accessdate = 2007-06-16] Subsequent to the Palestinian legislative election, 2006, both governments regard themselves as the sole legitimate Palestinian government.

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.cite web
title = President Abbas prepares to swear in unelected interim government
publisher = Ma'an News Agency
url = http://maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=23042
accessdate = 2007-06-16] Nonetheless, Ismail Haniya of the Hamas rejected the decree of Mahmoud Abbas and said his government would remain in officeand 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.cite web
title = Hundreds flee Hamas-run Gaza amid spillover fears (Page 3)
publisher = Reuters
url = http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSFLE45503220070616?pageNumber=3
accessdate = 2007-06-16] cite web
title = Fatah militants storm rival-held government buildings
publisher = CNN
url = http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/16/gaza.fighting/index.html
accessdate = 2007-06-16]

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.cite web
title = Hundreds flee Hamas-run Gaza amid spillover fears (Page 1)
publisher = Reuters
url = http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSFLE45503220070616
accessdate = 2007-06-16]

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.

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.cite web
title = Kluft vertieft sich weiter (german)
publisher = ORF
url = http://www.orf.at/070616-13435/13436txt_story.html
accessdate = 2007-06-16]

Accession of Gaza strip to Egypt

There has been a proposal of the Gaza strip's accession to Egypt by the people of Egypt, Palestine and even Israel. It is also supported by Turkey and Syria.

References