Abbas dissolves unity coalition amid turmoil

The Palestine Liberation Organization’s top body recommended that Abbas declare a state of emergency and dismantle Fatah’s governing coalition with Hamas. Abbas said he would review the recommendations and decide later Thursday, said an aide, Nabil Amr.

Israel was watching the carnage closely, concerned the clashes might spawn attacks on its southern border. Defense Minister Amir Peretz told a weekly security meeting that Israel would not allow the violence to spread to attacks on southern Israel, meeting participants said.

White House press secretary Tony Snow called the situation “a source of profound concern” that is being monitored by Washington. He said Hamas has expanded its “acts of terror” to target the Palestinian people themselves.

The State Department backed Abbas and said it has not changed its view that Hamas is a terrorist organization.

“We are keeping a very close watch,” he said. “It’s certainly not a situation we like.”

Humanitarian aid on hold
The European Union suspended tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid projects in the Gaza Strip because of the escalating violence, a day after the U.N. announced it would scale back its relief projects there.

The head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, warned of a “disastrous outcome” if the bloody infighting continues and called for an immediate cease-fire.

Hamas, meanwhile, had its sights on two other key command centers in Gaza City and widened its onslaught to include Fatah-linked broadcast outlets.

In a broadcast on Hamas radio, the Islamic fighters demanded that Fatah surrender the National Security compound by midafternoon. Light clashes were under way there when the ultimatum was delivered.

RPGs were fired toward Abbas’ Gaza compound, provoking return fire from his presidential guard. For the first time since the fighting began, Abbas ordered his guard to go on the offensive against Hamas at the compound, and not simply maintain a defensive posture, an aide said. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the situation was fluid.

Hamas fighters fired dozens of RPGs at the intelligence services building in Gaza City. Hamas TV showed smoke billowing from the top two floors of the mortar-pocked, five-story building. Five masked gunmen posed inside for the camera, including one who raised two assault rifles in triumph.

Media outlets are targets
Fatah-allied Voice of Palestine Radio was on fire after Hamas attacked it, Palestine TV reported. Two local radio stations had shut down after Hamas threatened to blow up all broadcast outlets belonging to “collaborators.”

In Rafah, Hamas took over the Preventive Security building, according to witnesses and Col. Nasser Khaldi, a senior police official. A resident who gave his name as Raed said Hamas had raised its green flags over the building, Fatah-allied security forces had fled, and men carried away equipment from inside.

Gaza hospitals were operating without water, electricity and blood.

Even holed up inside their homes, Gazans weren’t able to escape the fighting. Moean Hammad, 34, said life had become a nightmare at his high-rise building near the Preventive Security headquarters, where Fatah forces on the rooftop were battling Hamas fighters.

“We spent our night in the hallway outside the apartment because the building came under crossfire,” Hammad said. “We haven’t had electricity for two days, and all we can hear is shooting and powerful, earthshaking explosions.

“The world is watching us dying and doing nothing to help,” he said.

Fatah has asked Israeli permission to bring in more arms, but Tzahi Hanegbi, chairman of the Israeli parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, told Army Radio that arming Fatah would be “insane” because the weapons would fall into Hamas hands.

He said Israel was considering backing Fatah forces in the West Bank, but did not elaborate.

MORE FROM MIDEAST & N. AFRICA

Mideast & N. Africa Section Front

Palestinians to seek endorsement of statehood Bingo’s comeback erases divisions in Baghdad Iraqi Sunni Arab VP threatens to veto election law Iran cracks down on online opposition Reports: Iran ex-deputy minister jailed in Israel Iran's first lady makes rare speech at Rome summit Mideast & N. Africa Section Front   Add Mideast & N. Africa headlines to your news reader: