Western nations are working quickly to support the new Palestinian government in the West Bank, following the violent takeover of the Gaza Strip by the Islamic militant group Hamas. The United States and European Union have announced they will resume financial aid to the Palestinian Authority, now that Hamas is no longer a part of the government. Middle East analysts say the current situation in the Palestinian territories is unprecedented.
The bloody takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas has split the Palestinian government, with the Hamas leadership in Gaza headed by deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and the new Fatah-allied cabinet in the West Bank sworn in by President Mahmoud Abbas.
In announcing the resumption of direct aid to Mr. Abbas' government, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Hamas is attempting to divide the Palestinian people, a move the United States rejects.
Analysts say the division between the West Bank and Gaza has endangered the Palestinians' goal of forming an independent state in the two territories, which are located on opposite sides of Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
President Abbas seeks peace with Israel while Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings, wants to destroy the Jewish state. The United States, Israel and the European Union consider Hamas to be a terrorist organization.
Robert Malley, the Director of the Middle East Program at the International Crisis Group, says the Hamas takeover of Gaza means the Palestinians have entered an extraordinary period of uncertainty.
While western nations are restoring aid to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, and are pledging more money to help the United Nations fund assistance in the Gaza Strip, fears are being raised about a possible humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which is home to about 1.4 million Palestinians.
Hamas began its rise to prominence in the late 1980s during the first Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza.
Following the Oslo peace accords in the early 1990s, the group's armed wing launched a campaign of suicide attacks against Israeli targets.
Early last year Hamas won Palestinian parliamentary elections, defeating the Fatah-led government, which was seen as corrupt and ineffective.
The group's popularity is partly due to its extensive network of social services, including schools, health clinics and mosques.
Following Hamas' victory at the polls, western nations cutoff aid to the Hamas-led government, and Israel froze hundreds of millions of dollars in Palestinian tax revenues.
Some analysts are expressing concern that a total boycott of Hamas could turn the Gaza Strip into a breeding ground for international terrorism.
Analysts say the United States and Israel are backing President Abbas to send the message that more is to be gained by negotiations than by violence.
The general outlines of a peace settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians have been known for years, although no significant progress has been made since the Oslo process collapsed.
Analysts say achieving a two-state solution appears more difficult than ever, now that the Palestinians are virtually split into two separate states themselves.
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For people that dont understand whats going on in israel/palestian:
palestians are good people and the jewish people of israel is good people aswell
its hamas that ruind palestian people by firing home made rockets on israel/jews
i might add that hamas is shoting neer schools/hospitols of palestian areas...
so thats really whats going on here in israel/palestian...we are geting fucked by 1 group called hamas...the IDF dont want to kill palestian people only hamas and terrorist groups...
GoldenTagachi 1 year ago
@natashanaa There IS NO occupation.Human Rights? Palestinians don't even know the meaning of the word!
potlood55 1 year ago
@akumie Before Israël was born the area was almost completely empty,after zionist mostly from Russia came there in 1900,there became the beginning of an economy.Arab nomads came to the area because of that.So there are no "Palistinians"That's a name they came up with.About overpopulation of Gaza.If they live poor,they should try to work instead of living of donations of the civilised world.When there are to many rats in a cage they will start killing eachother.That's happening now by Hamas.
potlood55 1 year ago 2
@potlood55 before israel was born many muslims already lived there so dont agree but I do agree msulims make to many babies
In Europe its like 4-8 children/family and they think it will work LOL
Unless we make 1000 apartments in gaza or something nothing will work will over population but that still doesnt mean they have to live poor
Make 10000 apartment building with 100+ people living in each building and then if it doesnt work we can blame overpopulation
akumie 1 year ago
@akumie The stinking Palestinians already have a country,it is called Jordane.Gaza is overpopulated because they breed like fucking rabbits,it could help you if you would try to reed the thruth,instead of palestinian propaganda.You can reed,can you?
potlood55 1 year ago
@Mohamad195 allahu fuckbar?
GanEdenAustralia 1 year ago
@markanhu And so do we. :)
GanEdenAustralia 1 year ago
In Australia recently I met a 32 year old man wearing designer clothes, driving a late model car and sporting an expensive camera. He introduced himself as a Palestinian refugee new to Australia, had never been to Palestine and came from Lebanon. He gets Australian govt assistance and is enjoying his life here. He explained that he is a victim of the occupation and that the Jews are trying to "destroy" the Al Aqsa Mosque. Enough said.
GanEdenAustralia 1 year ago 2
Shit Is Crazy Now In Days . That's Sad . Smh -___-
swirls1223 2 years ago
kinda fun americans cared about what a women called a food said..haha who is called rice, like if I was called tomato
akumie 2 years ago