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Hamas Exploits Fatah Leadership Struggle in Gaza
[Dar Al-Hayat-Lebanon] Abdullah Iskandar - Following the death of Yasser Arafat there was a struggle for leadership between Ahmed Hilles, leader of the Hilles clan in Gaza, and Mohamed Dahlan. When Hamas mounted a massive operation to control Gaza and expel Fatah last June, the Hilles clan stood by without firing a single round, as Hamas claimed that the operation targeted Dahlan and his group. Despite this, the Sheja'eya neighborhood, the fiefdom of the powerful Gazan family, was not spared by Hamas. Hamas was not able to find a framework of understanding with a well-known clan, refusing to coexist with another power in Gaza where society still recognizes the weight of family aggregations. Hamas forced citizens of its own, fleeing its liquidation attempts, to seek refuge with the enemy. The Hilles men are not only known for their hatred for Israel, but also for their actual involvement in confronting the Israelis.