Palestinian Civil War Watch: Time to call it what it is?

Hamas has upped the ante, possibly farther than they realize. It may be time to make the Palestinian Civil War into an initial-cap phrase and a proper noun, because I think it’s finally hit the point of no return.

Hamas operatives in Gaza completely destroyed Fatah’s security headquarters in the Gaza Strip, at the height of another day of inter-factional violence in the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas gunmen set fire to the Palestinian Preventative Security Forces building in northern Gaza, burning it to the ground. Immediately afterwards they continued on the Force 17 headquarters – Fatah’s general and military intelligence staff, and destroyed it as well.

The attacks came in apparent response to Fatah’s raid on the Hamas’ Agriculture Ministry earlier Saturday, in search of weapons and gunmen in hiding.

There’s this thing about the palestinian culture that boggles most Western minds, because we haven’t really thought in tribal terms in millennia, and we have courts to administer justice for us. But they are still a tribal culture, which is what causes much of the violence in the name of reprisal attacks. The clans go back and forth until and unless someone outside intervenes to stop the bloodshed. Many people have used the phrase “honor/shame” society to describe them (without really understanding what it means, and the reason you never see me use it is because it has become a meaningless phrase in the blogosphere). But the point is, the tribal culture contributes to that honor/shame custom (as well as to its dark side, the so-called “honor” killings of women).

The question is, will Force 17 will take this “insult” to their honor? Or, since the building was apparently empty, is this just another empty symbol?

Less than a day after another ceasefire agreement was attained between Fatah and Hamas, on Saturday morning violence between the factions erupted anew, and at least eight Palestinian were wounded.

Severe gun battles erupted on the streets of Gaza City, near President Mahmoud Abbas’ office and the Palestinian security headquarters in the city center. Witnesses reported that gunmen from both camps were positioned in the area and there was heavy gunfire.

Early Saturday afternoon Hamas gunmen set fire to the Palestinian Authority’s Preventative Security Forces headquarters, burning it to the ground.

Hamas operatives also destroyed the command center of Force 17, Fatah’s general and military intelligence branch.

Mind you, I’m wondering where Force 17 was while all this was happening. They are, for those of you who don’t know, they were the bodyguards of Yasser Arafat, and they are also the perpetrators of dozens of terror attacks on Israelis.

So. Those of us watching from the sidelines will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of this action. Perhaps Hamas has “opened the gates of hell” on its own self.

That would be lovely.

Of course, the terrorists do have a history of teasing us. Then again, a lot has happened in the last three days:

Since Thursday 25 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the inter-factional violence, including four children. Additionally over 250 people were wounded.

And once again: I hope both sides lose.