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Hamas captures Fatah security HQ Hamas captures Fatah security HQ
(19 minutes later)
Hamas militants have seized the headquarters of their rival Fatah's Preventive Security force, tightening their control over the Gaza Strip.Hamas militants have seized the headquarters of their rival Fatah's Preventive Security force, tightening their control over the Gaza Strip.
Witnesses said Hamas had raised its flags over the compound in Gaza City, amid reports Fatah security workers were being led out of the building. Witnesses said Hamas had raised its flags over the compound in Gaza City, amid reports 14 Palestinians, mostly Fatah security workers, were killed.
Gun battles continued elsewhere in Gaza with Hamas targeting Fatah's security and political command centres.Gun battles continued elsewhere in Gaza with Hamas targeting Fatah's security and political command centres.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held crisis talks with his Fatah group. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was holding crisis talks with key aides.
Mr Abbas was expected to make a statement later on Thursday.Mr Abbas was expected to make a statement later on Thursday.
Sources close to Mr Abbas told the BBC he is deciding whether to dismantle the Palestinian cabinet, thereby ending the three-month-old unity government that was meant to stop the violence.Sources close to Mr Abbas told the BBC he is deciding whether to dismantle the Palestinian cabinet, thereby ending the three-month-old unity government that was meant to stop the violence.
Gun battlesGun battles
Hamas is reported to now control almost the entire Gaza Strip, following five days of intense factional fighting in which at least 80 people have been killed.Hamas is reported to now control almost the entire Gaza Strip, following five days of intense factional fighting in which at least 80 people have been killed.
Rivals: Fatah and HamasRivals: Fatah and Hamas
Hamas militants are now targeting Fatah's security and political command centres in Gaza City, following a series of battles on Wednesday in which Hamas made important gains in the north and south. Hamas militants are targeting Fatah's security and political command centres, following a series of battles on Wednesday in which Hamas made important gains in the north and south.
Fatah denied the Preventative Security force headquarters had fallen, but witnesses said the green flags of Hamas were now flying from the building.Fatah denied the Preventative Security force headquarters had fallen, but witnesses said the green flags of Hamas were now flying from the building.
Hamas later demanded that Fatah abandon another key security post, the National Security complex in Gaza City, which came under a barrage of mortar shells overnight.
In other parts of the Gaza Strip, Fatah forces blew up key positions rather than surrender them, according to AP news agency.In other parts of the Gaza Strip, Fatah forces blew up key positions rather than surrender them, according to AP news agency.
Hamas has issued an ultimatum to Fatah militants in Gaza to lay down their weapons by 1600 GMT on Friday or risk having them taken from them. Earlier, Hamas issued an ultimatum to Fatah militants in Gaza to lay down their weapons by 1600 GMT on Friday or risk having them taken from them.
Truce conditionsTruce conditions
Thursday's fighting came despite a call from Mr Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, for all sides to halt the fighting.Thursday's fighting came despite a call from Mr Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, for all sides to halt the fighting.
A senior Fatah official told the BBC that it had agreed to a list of conditions from Hamas for a truce, including appointing an interior minister responsible for all Palestinian security forces, and shared control of Gaza's boundaries and borders. The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah says that after an aggressive military campaign Hamas feels it has now gained enough ground to call the political shots.
Without a ceasefire and stopping of the fighting I think the situation will collapse in Gaza Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza residents talk In pictures: Gaza fightingWithout a ceasefire and stopping of the fighting I think the situation will collapse in Gaza Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza residents talk In pictures: Gaza fighting
Fatah said it had accepted the conditions in principle, but that more dialogue between the two sides was needed. The Islamist movement has laid a series of demands on the table which it says Fatah has to agree to if there is to be peace and if the two parties are to continue to govern together.
A truce agreed on Monday was quickly broken and fighting escalated across northern Gaza. The conditions include appointing an interior minister responsible for all Palestinian security forces and shared control of Gaza's boundaries and borders.
Fatah and Hamas agreed a unity government in March to bring an end to factional strife and Western sanctions, but it has not stopped the rivalry. Mr Abbas is considering these proposals, but it is difficult to see how he or his party are in any position to argue with Hamas, our correspondent says.
Analysts say that if the fighting is not checked, Palestinians could be split into a Fatah-controlled West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Analysts say that if the fighting is not checked, Palestinians could be split into a Fatah-dominated West Bank and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
The international community has called for a ceasefire, and Arab League head Amr Moussa said the fighting was destroying the Palestinian cause.The international community has called for a ceasefire, and Arab League head Amr Moussa said the fighting was destroying the Palestinian cause.
Are you in Gaza? Have you been caught up in the violence? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:Are you in Gaza? Have you been caught up in the violence? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below:
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