Fatah and Hamas Duke It Out Over Who's Been The Stool-pigeon ?

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                

Was it the Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, who was the leader in planning the major attack on Israel on October 7,  2023? Sinwar was born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in Egyptian-occupied Gaza in 1962 to a family who had been expelled or fled from Majdal 'Asqalan during the 1948 Palestine War. He finished his studies at the Islamic University of Gaza, where he received a bachelor's degree in Arabic studies. 

In 1989, Sinwar was sentenced to four life sentences in Israel for orchestrating the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians he considered to be collaborators. He spent 22 years in prison until his release among 1,026 others in a 2011 prisoner exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. 

During his time in prison, Sinwar continued to coordinate the military activities of Hamas. Sinwar was one of the co-founders of the security apparatus of Hamas.

Sinwar was a bad dude.  He planned and carried out the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers prior to his arrest by Israel in 1988. 

Founding Al-Majd (1988): He established and led Al-Majd, the internal security apparatus of Hamas, which hunted, tortured, and killed suspected Palestinian informants and collaborators with Israel. 

The October 7, 2023 Attacks: Sinwar was the primary architect and mastermind of the coordinated assault on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people (mostly civilians) and the abduction of hundreds of hostages. 

 He also developed strong ties with Iran. Re-elected as Hamas leader in 2021, Sinwar survived an assassination attempt by Israel that same year.

 He was widely regarded as the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks in 2023, which was followed by the Gaza war that spilled over to other parts of the Middle East. Sinwar's killing of suspected collaborators with Israel gained him the nickname "The Butcher of Khan Younis".

Now, an opposing  Palestinian politician, Sufian Abu Zaida, a senior figure in Fatah and the PLO and a former Palestinian Authority minister for prisoner affairs, said Thursday that he was the previously unidentified intermediary who relayed a warning in September 2023 that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major attack on Israel. Now we know that Sinwar was already regarded as the mastermind behind the October 7 attack. 

 Is Zaida just trying to gain attention?  Or is he admitting that he was the squealer on Sinwar.  It's quite possible as Fatah is the opposition to Hamas.  Ideology: Fatah is a secular (non-religious) nationalist movement founded in the late 1950s. Hamas is an Islamist militant and political group founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and of Fatah !!2006 Elections: Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections, defeating Fatah, which had held power for decades. This upset led to a political deadlock and an inability to form a unified government.  

 Tensions erupted into a brief civil conflict in Gaza. Hamas forcefully expelled Fatah from the Gaza Strip in June 2007. 

Since 2007, the Palestinian territories have been politically and physically divided: Fatah governs parts of the West Bank, and Hamas rules Gaza. 

Abu Zaida was reportedly involved in indirect contacts between Israel and Hamas over the return of the bodies of Israeli soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul and the release of two Israeli civilians, Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, who were being held in Gaza at the time. For more, 

How has Israel addressed this informant question about Sinwar?  The IDF has formally dismissed the officer who served as the Gaza Division’s intelligence chief during the October 7 attack. The officer, who's identity remains classified, challenged the dismissal in court, but ultimately was unsuccessful.  Major General Aharon Haliva (2021–2024) — Resigned over October 7 failures.                         

The Aman) or Directorate is Major General Shlomi Binder, who took office in 2024. The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday announced the promotion of five generals as part of a series of appointments in the General Staff — a forum of senior commanders responsible for the various branches and departments of the military — including the next head of intelligence. The appointment considered the most significant and controversial was for the next head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, after the current top intel officer, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, announced his resignation last month over his role in the October 7 failures. 

Obviously, this is not an easy job.  I still say that those with room for a fenced yard to their homes need to have a German shepherd dog living in there.  I had one when I lived in Israel, brought her with me from Portland, OR.  I felt very safe.  Dogs are loyal, and their hearing is far far better than ours.  Just their barking would alert the owners to something to be investigated.  

The Rise Of Hamas: A Much Needed Palestinian Lesson #3

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Hamas was established during the First intifada against the Israeli occupation in 1987, and has its origins in Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement, which had been active in the Gaza Strip since the 1950s and gained influence through a network of mosques and various charitable and social organizations. In the 1980s the Brotherhood emerged as a powerful political factor, challenging the influence of the PLO, and in 1987 adopted a more nationalist and activist line under the name of Hamas, that means "Islamic Resistance Movement"..  During the 1990s and early 2000s, the organization conducted numerous suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel.

In the Palestinian legislative election of January 2006, Hamas campaigned on armed resistance against the Israeli occupation and gained a large majority of seats in the Palestinian Parliament, defeating the ruling Fatah party. After the elections, conflicts arose between Hamas and Fatah, which they were unable to resolve.  Both wanted to be the main ruler.  

     Leaders of both Hamas and Fatah, sticking together for only a short while.  The primary leader of Fatah is Mahmoud Abbas, who serves as the Chairman of the movement and President of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The overall leadership of Hamas is currently directed by its Shura Council, with senior members including Khaled Mashal and Khalil al-Hayya.

              

                      President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah         

                                                       

                                  Khaled Mashal of Hamas

                                                    

         Khalil al-Hayya-He has advocated for maintaining strong relations with Iran

In June 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah in a series of violent clashes, and since that time Hamas has governed the Gaza portion of the Palestinian Territories, while at the same time the unity government of which they formed a part in the West Bank was dissolved by the Palestinian Authority. Israel and Egypt then imposed an economic blockade on Gaza and largely sealed their borders with the territory.

After acquiring control of Gaza, Hamas-affiliated and other militias launched rocket attacks upon Israel, which Hamas ceased in June 2008 following an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire. The ceasefire broke down late in 2008, with each side accusing the other of responsibility. In late December 2008, Israel attacked Gaza, withdrawing its forces in mid-January 2009.

 Since 2009, Hamas has faced multiple military confrontations with Israel, notably the 2012 and 2014 Gaza Wars, leading to substantial casualties. Hamas has maintained control over Gaza, often clashing with the Palestinian Authority led by Fatah. Efforts at reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah have seen limited success. Hamas has continued to face international isolation and blockades, while engaging in sporadic rocket attacks and tunnel construction activities against Israel.

 In 2023, Hamas launched the October 7 attack on Israel, starting the ongoing Gaza war.On October 7, 2023, thousands of Hamas and other terrorists launched a massive, coordinated surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. It was the deadliest day for Israel since its independence and the most lethal single day for Jews since the Holocaust,  

Mass Fatalities: Approximately 1,200 people were killed, including over 800 civilians. The victims included entire families, children, and the elderly who were hunted down in their homes. 

Nova Music Festival Massacre: Militants overran the Supernova outdoor music festival near Re'im, shooting into crowds of young attendees and killing 364 people.

Systematic Brutality: The massive assault involved severe human rights abuses, including torture, mutilation, and widespread, systemic sexual violence across kibbutzim, villages, and the festival site. 

Hostage Crisis: Militants abducted 251 civilians and soldiers, dragging them back into the Gaza Strip as hostages and prisoners. 

Tactical Scope: The invasion began with a massive rocket barrage of at least 2,200 missiles to overwhelm the Iron Dome defense system. Militants then used explosives and bulldozers to breach the heavily fortified security barrier at dozens of locations, seizing control of more than 20 Israeli communities. 

Tis best not to even mention a Palestine next door to Israel.  After that demonstration of brotherly love, who needs it to understand the situation of today.  Ever since I started blogging in defense of Israel in 2004, I've found examples of trying to help the Palestinians to a better life.   They have constantly refused.  You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.  The Arabs should know of that rule well.  The Strong horse rules in the Middle East.  Right now it's Israel.

HAMAS EVOLUTION

 Nadene Goldfoot

Nadene Goldfoot 

                                                

                         PLO Leader Yasser Arafat 1969-2004

It started with Yasser Arafat in 1959.  Yasser Arafat became the chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1969, succeeding Ahmed Shukairy. He led the PLO until his death in 2004. Prior to leading the PLO, Arafat co-founded the Fatah movement in 1959, which aimed for Palestinian independence. He also served as the President of the Palestinian Authority (PA ) from 1994 until his death. 

                                  NO NO NO

The Khartoum meeting of Arab leaders, known as the Khartoum Resolution, took place from August 29 to September 1, 1967 after losing in the Six Day War with Israel. This meeting, held in Khartoum, Sudan, occurred shortly after the Six-Day War and resulted in the famous "Three No's" declaration: no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, and no negotiations with Israel. The Arab League Summit also addressed the need for Arab solidarity and efforts to eliminate the effects of the recent aggression.  While Arafat was a prominent figure in Palestinian nationalism at the time, he was not a head of state or government, and thus not part of the Arab League summit. 

The First Palestinian Intifada, also known as the First Palestinian Uprising, began on December 9, 1987. The uprising was ignited by an incident in which an Israeli military truck collided with a vehicle carrying Palestinian workers, killing four of them, near the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. 

Jabalia Camp, located in the North Gaza Governorate, is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. It was established in 1948 by the United Nations to accommodate Palestinians who were displaced or expelled from their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. 

• The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) plays a crucial role in providing essential services to Jabalia residents, including education, healthcare, relief and social services, infrastructure development, microfinance, and emergency response.  UNRWA operates 32 installations in Jabalia, including 16 school buildings accommodating 26 schools, a food distribution center, and health centers.  Funding for UNRWA activities is primarily from voluntary contributions from UN member states. 

Hamas came into being  in late 1987 at the beginning of the first Palestinian intifada (uprising). Its roots are in the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, and it is supported by a robust sociopolitical structure inside the Palestinian territories.

With the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, no significant change occurred to the administrative or political representation of refugees. While the UNRWA continued to supervise the camps, the first municipal council was founded in Gaza City on 26 July 1994, and this time it included one member from Shati' camp, while the municipalities of Rafah , Khan Yunis , and Deir al-Balah continued to represent refugees in their locales.

 During the Second Intifada (2000–2005), Fatah intensified armed conflict against Israel, claiming responsibility for a number of suicide attacks. Fatah had been closely identified with the leadership of its founder and chairman, Yasser Arafat, until his death in 2004.  

In 2005, Israel disengaged from the Gaza Strip by dismantling all 21 Israeli settlements there. As part of this process, four Israeli settlements in the West Bank were dismantled as well. This was done in the name of peace;  giving land Israel had inherited from the Six Day War.  Ever since, it became a platform from which to shoot from closer into Israel. 

How did Hamas come to power in Gaza in the first place? That history is worth revisiting now, two and a half weeks into the war, as it tests whether Biden’s point is true.

Update: 7/28/25:  The U.S. Congress, including Senator Biden as a key co-sponsor, enacted the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act in December 2006, which codified the policy of prohibiting U.S. assistance to any Palestinian unity government involving Hamas unless these conditions were met. 

• A RAND Corporation publication states that the US, under both Bush and Obama, had a flawed policy toward Gaza that included pushing for elections despite Palestinian and Israeli reservations, which played a significant role in enabling Hamas to seize power.

It was in January 2006 that the Palestinian territories held what turned out to be their last parliamentary elections. Hamas won a bare plurality of votes (44 percent to the more moderate Fatah party’s 41 percent) but, given the electoral system, a strong majority of seats (74 to 45). Neither party was keen on sharing power. Fighting broke out between the two. When a unity government was finally formed in June 2007, Hamas broke the deal, started murdering Fatah members, and, in the end, took total control of the Gaza Strip. Those who weren’t killed fled to the West Bank, and the territories have remained split ever since.

     Fatah and Hamas who could not share the power

 On 20 February,2006  Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was nominated to form a new government. The new government with Haniyeh as Prime Minister was sworn in on 29 March. As of May 2025, no new elections have been held since this one.  He died on  31 July 2024 at age 63 in Tehran, Iran by assassination.           

      Mahmoud Abbas born 15 November 1935), also known by the kunya Abu Mazen (Arabic: أَبُو مَازِن,  is a Palestinian politician who has been serving as the second president of Palestine and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) since 2005;  20 years already.  He's going to be 90 years old.  

  Farouk Kaddoumi constitutionally succeeded Arafat to the position of Fatah Chairman and continued in the position until 2009, when Abbas was elected chairman. Since Arafat's death, factionalism within the ideologically diverse movement has become more apparent.

Are there really a million Gazans starving?  Who counted them?  It's Hamas who is responsible for they started this war and will not end it.  It's either allow them to slaughter Israelis or defend Israelis that Netanyahu's responsibility lies. When a country is attacked, you'd expect that country to defend its population.  

When a country attacks another, you'd think they'd have plans if there were returned fire and be ready to defend their own.  But if it's part of a weird plan to gain hatred for their target, they would encourage it to happen.  It's their new ammunition, free and easy to spread;  people are so willing to hate Jews.

Are teens and adult Gazans getting enough food?  Hamas terrorists are.  I haven't seen any grown Gazans walking around looking like Holocaust survivors did; only the babies.  Are they being sacrificed in the name of their holy war against Israel?  

The thing that hurts Jews the most in this world is to see a starving person; and essen is their favorite word in Yiddish-eat, eat.  Hamas knows how to hit us below the belt!   This is gut wrenching for us, too, but we know how their parents sacrificed their 18 year olds by allowing them to become terrorists, and would brag about how they fought for Hamas!!  Now Hamas expects them to with hold food from their babies because it makes better PR.  Look at the adults today;  they look normal, not starving.  Hamas members will never starve.   

You think the pictures are horrible?  Jews are crying out against it even more, believe me.  It's too close to what their families have endured.  

How about the terrorists' parents-relatives?  They voted in Hamas.  They are not emaciated like their babies.  Why?  

USA companies and Israeli companies have brought in food and now the roads are blocked by Hamas.  No other country is helping the USA with food except Israel.  They only supply criticism.