Attacks Targeted Fatah Members

On Friday November 7th, 2014, Al Jazeera reported that there were a number of explosions that were said to be directed towards Fatah leaders. The various explosions occurred at the residences of various officials within the party, as well as the stage where there would be a remembrance of the death of PLO leader Yassir Arafat. Nobody was killed or hurt in these explosions, and there has been no claim of responsibility with regards to these attacks.

The report, and others, are questioning whether Hamas, with whom the Fatah party has had tension, was behind the blasts. Again, there is no confirmation of this, so it is important to wait for the facts before making a claim of who was responsible for these actions.

According to other reports, it seems that Fatah may be blaming Hamas, and Hamas seems to be saying that Fatah carried out the actions.

It will be interesting to monitor statements by Hamas and Fatah leaders during this time, particularly with an eye on possible discussions with their goals for a unity government. There have been attempts a bridging the two groups. Namely, the unity government was agreed upon, and was first signed in April of 2014, and then later established in June of 2014, right before Israel’s invasion into Gaza. As a result, it was reported that Israel halted peace talks, upset at this development (Guardian, 2014).

Given the recent developments, it will remain to be seen whether the two sides will continue to work with the goal of a unity government, or whether tensions will move the groups away from one another.