Gaza in hand, Hamas offers amnesty to Fatah leaders

From his office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Abbas declared a state of emergency Thursday, firing the Hamas-led government and its prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh.

Abbas has named his own prime minister-Salam Fayyad, an independent who is well-respected in the international community. The US and the European Union have offered support to Abbas.

Gazans awoke to the new reality of Hamas control on Friday, fraught with uncertainty and fear that they8217;ll become even poorer and more isolated. Gaza8217;s crossings with Egypt and Israel8212;lifelines for the fenced-in territory8212;were closed this week, and it was not clear if they would reopen.

A Hamas spokesperson said Palestinian police, now under Hamas command, would take up positions at the crossings, but it is unlikely that Israel would acquiesce to such a deployment, since Hamas militants have frequently attacked the passages in the past.

Palestinian territories are, in effect, split in two. Gaza is now controlled by Hamas, which has close ties with Syria and Iran. The more populous West Bank, with about 2 million residents to Gaza8217;s 1.4 million, is dominated by the more moderate Fatah, which has ties with Israel and the West.

Since Fatah recognises Israel and past peace agreements, a boycott of the Palestinian government imposed by Israel and the international community after Hamas8217; electoral successes may no longer apply to the West Bank8212;only to Gaza.

Earlier on Friday, Hamas announced it had arrested 10 of the most senior Fatah leaders in the strip. But Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeideh later declared an amnesty for all Fatah leaders, and those detained were released shortly afterwards.Abu Obeideh also called for the immediate release of

Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist who was kidnapped in March and is believed to be held by a powerful Gaza clan whose members had ties to both Hamas and Fatah.