Dahlan. No future for Hamas
Photo: Shaul Golan
Hamas rounds up Fatah members after Gaza rally turns deadly
Some 400 people rounded up in overnight crackdown in aftermath of mass Fatah rally that ended with six people dead; detainees include dozens of demonstration's organizers. Former Gaza strongman Dahlan slams Hamas, says 'Monday's march will shorten the suffering of the Palestinian people and will shorten the life of this bloody movement,' he adds. Meanwhile Tuesday, Hamas security forces round up 400 Fatah members
A large Fatah rally in Gaza and Hamas' violent response
signal that the Islamic group's grip is weakening, said former Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan.
The rally was largely peaceful, but ended in mayhem, with Hamas police opening fire, Fatah protesters throwing stones and thousands of panicked demonstrators running for cover.
In Monday's demonstration, more than 250,000 Fatah supporters gathered in a Gaza City square to mark the November 11, 2004 death of iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Who's Responsible?
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Six civilians were killed, and 85 people were wounded, medical officials said.
On Tuesday, Hamas security forces moved swiftly against their Fatah rivals in the aftermath of the mass Fatah rally, rounding up 400 people in an overnight crackdown, Fatah officials said Tuesday.
The detainees included dozens of the rally's organizers, Fatah spokesman Hazem Abu Shanab said. Hamas officials were not immediately available for comment.
Dahlan portrayed the rally as a sign of growing discontent of ordinary Gazans with Hamas, which seized control of Gaza by force in June, ousting the security forces loyal to Fatah's leader, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Monday's rally (Photo: AFP)
In an interview Monday, Dahlan called for more rallies and said Monday's march "Will shorten the suffering of the Palestinian people and will shorten the life of this bloody movement (Hamas)."
For years, Dahlan has gone head-to-head with Hamas leaders in Gaza, trading bitter accusations. Hamas leaders portrayed him as corrupt.
As a Gaza security chief under Arafat in the 1990s, Dahlan played a key role in a crackdown on the Islamic militants in response to a bombing campaign against Israel.
'A danger to Palestinian society'
Dahlan was not in Gaza during the Hamas takeover in June, having spent much time abroad for medical treatment, and his opulent home was destroyed by looters.After the defeat of Abbas' security forces, he resigned as national security adviser and spent much of his time in Germany, undergoing knee operations. He returned to the West Bank several days ago.
Before the Gaza fiasco, Dahlan was one of Abbas' closest advisers, but it's not clear whether he will try to stage a comeback. He said Monday that he is not seeking a government job.
Instead, he said, he would work closely with Fatah activists, especially in Gaza, "To expose the reality of the Hamas movement ... and move from this dark period to a more promising future."
Dahlan had harsh words for his bitter rivals, calling them "thieves" and a "danger to Palestinian society." He said that "there is no future for this faction (Hamas) after this massive crowd today."
However, Hamas appears to be entrenched in Gaza, despite a tight border closure by Israel for the last five months.
Except for Monday's rally of Fatah supporters, there have been few public displays of discontent, and Hamas security forces control the streets.
