Hamas Government in Gaza
Gaza Strip
Capital		Administrative centers: Gaza (Gaza Strip)
Official language(s)		Palestinian Arabic
Government		Officially parliamentary democracy (elections not held since 2006) De facto Theocratic dictatorship
-	Prime Minister	Ismail Haniyeha
-	President	Aziz Duwaik
Establishment
-	Established	January, 2006
Population
-	2011 estimate	1,657,155
GDP (PPP)		2009 estimate
-	Total	$770 million (-)
-	Per capita	$3,100 (-)
Currency		Egyptian Poundb Israeli new sheqele (EGP, ILS)
Time zone		(UTC+2)
-	Summer (DST)	(UTC+3)
Internet TLD		.ps, فلسطين.
Calling code		+970
Notes a b c a Haniyeh was dismissed by President Abbas in favor of Fayad, however, along with the Palestinian Legislative Council, Haniyeh does not acknowledge the legitimacy of his dismissal; from 14 June 2007 Haniyeh exercises de facto authority in the Gaza Strip, whereas Fayad's government has authority in the West Bank. b Used in Gaza Strip from 1951–present c Used from 1985–present

Since 2006, the Governance of the Gaza Strip has been performed by the Hamas administration, which is often referred to as the Hamas government in Gaza.^[1][2][3] Due to the conservative Islamic nature of the regime in Gaza, the polity is also referred as the Islamist Emirate of Gaza,^[4] or as Hamastan by some sources.^[5]

Hamas control over the area was established after the Hamas party won the Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006,^[6] and ousted Fatah officials during the Battle of Gaza in 2007.^[7] Hamas' political and military rival, Fatah, controls the West Bank.^[8] Both regimes - the Palestinian National Authority and the Hamas administration - regard themselves as the sole legitimate Palestinian government.

Since the division between the two parties, there have been conflicts between Hamas and various factions operating in Gaza and with Israel, most notably the Gaza War of 2008-2009. The radicalization of the Gaza Strip also brought internal conflicts between various groups, in events like 2009 Hamas crackdown on Jund Ansar Allah, an Al-Qaeda affiliated group, resulting in 22 people killed; and the April 2011 Hamas crackdown on a Salafist group, involved in Vittorio Arrigoni's murder.^[9][10]

Negotiations toward reconciliation between the PA and the Hamas administration, which were mediated by Egypt, produced a preliminary agreement in 2011, which was supposed to be implemented by May 2012 through joint elections. Despite the peace plan, Palestinian sources were quoted in January 2012 as saying that the May joint elections "would not be possible". In February 2012, Haled Meshaal and Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas signed the Hamas-Fatah Doha agreement towards implementation of the 2011 Cairo accords, though Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip expressed their discontent and "unacceptibility" of the Doha agreement. To date, the Hamas administration, under Prime-Minister Haniye, maintains only economic ties with the Palestinian National Authority, performing the function of governing Gaza independently.

History[link]

Gaza Strip under Palestinian National Authority[link]

Conflict between Fatah and Hamas had been simmering since Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006. Upon taking power, Hamas offered Israel a one-year extension of the truce that was then in force but announced that they would refuse to honor past agreements between the Palestinian government and Israel. As a result, the US, Israel and the EU cut off aid to Gaza.^[11] The U.S. and Israel attempted to undermine Hamas^[12] and force it from power while strengthening President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah's position.

Major conflict erupted in Gaza in December 2006, when the Hamas executive authority attempted to replace the Palestinian police as the primary authority in Gaza.^[13]

On February 8, 2007 Saudi-sponsored negotiations in Mecca produced an agreement on a Palestinian national unity government. The agreement was signed by Mahmoud Abbas on behalf of Fatah and Khaled Mashal on behalf of Hamas. The new government was called on to achieve Palestinian national goals as approved by the Palestine National Council, the clauses of the Basic Law and the National Reconciliation Document (the "Prisoners' Document") as well as the decisions of the Arab summit.^[14]

In March 2007, the Palestinian Legislative Council established a national unity government, with 83 representatives voting in favor and three against. Government ministers were sworn in by Mahmoud Abbas, the chairman on the Palestinian Authority, at a ceremony held simultaneously in Gaza and Ramallah. In June that year, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip from the national unity government^[15] after forcing out Fatah.

On June 14, 2007 Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced the dissolution of the former unity government and declared a state of emergency. He dismissed Ismail Haniya as Prime Minister and appointed Salam Fayyad as the new one, giving him the task of building a new government.^[16] Nonetheless, Ismail Haniya of the Hamas rejected the decree of Mahmoud Abbas and said his government would remain in office^[8] and would claim authority over the entire Palestinian territories.

After the takeover by Hamas[link]

With Hamas being in control of the Gaza Strip and Fatah in control of the West Bank, there are de facto two Palestinian governments, both considering themselves to be the legitimate Palestinian National Authority government. Palestinian police chief Kamal el-Sheikh ordered his men in the Gaza Strip not to work or obey Hamas orders. Many Fatah members fled the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, and Fatah gunmen stormed Hamas-led institutions in the West Bank after the Battle of Gaza.^[17][18]

Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat said the Palestinian National Authority officially has no control in the Gaza Strip. Hamas and Fatah accused each other of a coup d'état; neither recognizes the authority of the other government.^[8][19]

The United States, EU, and Israel have not recognized the Hamas government, but support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's government in the West Bank. The Arab League called on all parties to stop the fighting and return the government to its status before the Battle of Gaza, which would be the 2007 unity government and not the new Palestinian National Authority government appointed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Although the US does not officially recognize the Hamas government, it holds it "fully and entirely responsible for the Gaza Strip," United States Assistant Secretary of State Sean McCormack said.^[18]

On June 16, 2007, Ismail Haniya declared Said Fanuna (officially a Fatah general who, in reality, distanced himself from Mahmoud Abbas) as the new security chief in the Gaza Strip, stating him as a "higher police command" than the West Bank-based police chief Kamal el-Sheikh of the Fatah.^[17][20]

Internal and external conflicts[link]

Since the division between the two Palestinian parties, while the West Bank remained relatively quiet, the Gaza Strip has been a scene of constant conflict between the Hamas and various factions against Israel, most notable the Gaza War of 2008-2009.

In 2009, The radicalization of the Gaza Strip also brought the 2009 Hamas crackdown on Jund Ansar Allah, an Al-Qaeda affiliated group, resulting in 22 people killed. The event came after a radical Salafist cleric declared an "Islamic Emirate" in Gaza, accusing Hamas of failing to implement a full Sharia law. The undermining of the Hamas authority resulted in violent crackdown on the group, which took 2 days.

In March 2010, it was reported that Ahmed Jabari described the security situation in Gaza as deteriorating and that Hamas was starting to lose control.^[21] Nevertheless, the Hamas continued to execute its authority.

In April 2011, Hamas performed a crackdown on a Salafist group, involved in Vittorio Arrigoni's murder.^[22][23]

Government and politics[link]

In 2006, Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections and assumed administrative control of Gaza Strip. In 2007, it led a military victory over Fatah, the secular Palestinian nationalist party, which had dominated the Palestinian National Authority. As a result, the Hamas Prime Minister Haniye was released by President Mahmud Abbas - a move not recognized by the Hamas party, which de-facto continued administration and military control of the Gaza Strip, while in the PNA controlled West Bank another government was established with Fatach domination.

Both regimes - the Palestinian National Authority and the Hamas administration regard themselves as the sole legitimate Palestinian governments. Egyptian-mediated negotiations toward reconciliation between the PA and the Hamas administration produced a preliminary agreement, planned to be implemented by May 2012 in joint elections. To date, the Hamas administration is only economically bonded with the Palestinian National Authority, performing the governing over the Gaza Strip independently.

In March 2010, Ahmed Jabari described the security situation in Gaza as deteriorating and said Hamas was starting to lose control.^[24]

In June 2011, the Independent Commission for Human Rights published a report whose findings included that the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip were subjected in 2010 to an “almost systematic campaign” of human rights abuses by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas administration, as well as by Israeli authorities, with the security forces belonging to the PA and Hamas administration being responsible for torture, arrests and arbitrary detentions.^[25]

Economy[link]

Sea-view from Al Deira hotel on the Gaza coast

The economy of the Hamas administered Gaza Strip is severely hampered by high population density, limited land access, strict internal and external security controls, the effects of Israeli military operations, and restrictions on labor and trade access across the border. Per capita income (PPP) was estimated at US$ 3,100 in 2009, a position of 164th in the world.^[26] Seventy percent of the population is below the poverty line according to a 2009 estimate.^[26] Gaza Strip industries are generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial centre. Israel supplies the Gaza Strip with electricity.

The main agricultural products are olives, citrus, vegetables, Halal beef, and dairy products. Primary exports are citrus and cut flowers, while primary imports are food, consumer goods, and construction materials. The main trade partners of the Gaza Strip are Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.^[26]

Historic changes in Gaza's economy[link]

Under Palestinian authority[link]

Economic output in the Gaza Strip declined by about one-third between 1992 and 1996. This downturn was attributed to corruption and mismanagement by Yasser Arafat, and to Israeli closure policies. Economic development has been hindered by the lack of a sea harbour. A harbour was planned to be built in Gaza city with help from France and the Netherlands, but the project was bombed by Israel in 2001. Israel said that the Israeli settlement was being shot from the construction site at the harbour.^[27][28] As a result, international transports (both trade and aid) had to go through Israel, which was hindered by the imposition of generalized border closures. These also disrupted previously established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel and the Strip. A serious negative social effect of this downturn was the emergence of high unemployment.

Backyard industry

Israel's use of comprehensive closures decreased over the next few years. In 1998, Israel implemented new policies to ease security procedures and allow freer movement of Gazan goods and labor into Israel. These changes led to three years of economic recovery in the Gaza Strip, disrupted by the outbreak of the al-Aqsa Intifada in the last quarter of 2000 that lasted until 2004. The al-Aqsa Intifada triggered tight IDF closures of the border with Israel, as well as frequent curbs on traffic in Palestinian self-rule areas, severely disrupting trade and labor movements. In 2001, and even more so in early 2002, internal turmoil and Israeli military measures led to widespread business closures and a sharp drop in GDP. Infrastructure, such as the Palestine airport, was destroyed.^[28] Another major factor was a drop in income due to reduction in the number of Gazans permitted entry to work in Israel. After the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the flow of a limited number of workers into Israel resumed, although Israel said it would reduce or end such permits due to the victory of Hamas in the 2006 parliamentary elections.

The Israeli settlers of Gush Katif built greenhouses and experimented with new forms of agriculture. These greenhouses provided employment for hundreds of Gazans. When Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2005, some of the greenhouses were purchased with money raised by former World Bank president James Wolfensohn, and given to Palestinians to jump-start their economy, while others were demolished by the departing settlers.^[29] The effort faltered due to limited water supply, Palestinian looting, restrictions on exports and corruption in the Palestinian Authority. Many Palestinian companies repaired the greenhouses damaged and looted in the process of Israeli withdrawal.^[30]

Before the second Palestinian uprising in September 2000, around 25,000 workers from the Gaza Strip (about 2% of the population) used to work in Israel every day.^[31]

Tunnel between the Gaza Strip and Egypt

Following Hamas takeover[link]

Israel, the United States, Canada, and the European Union have frozen all funds to the Palestinian government after the formation of a Hamas-controlled government after its victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. They view the group as a terrorist organization, and have pressured Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce violence, and make good on past agreements. Prior to disengagement, 120,000 Palestinians from Gaza were employed in Israel or in joint projects. After the Israeli withdrawal, the gross domestic product of the Gaza Strip declined. Jewish enterprises shut down, work relationships were severed and job opportunities in Israel dried up. After the 2006 elections, fighting broke out between Fatah and Hamas, which Hamas won in the Gaza Strip on 14 June 2007. Israel imposed a blockade, and the only goods permitted into the Strip through the land crossings were goods of a humanitarian nature.

2012 fuel crisis[link]

In early 2012, due to internal economic disagreement between the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas Government in Gaza, as well as decreased supplies from Egypt and through tunnel smuggling, the Gaza Strip plunged into a fuel crisis, bringing increasingly long electricity shut downs and disruption of transportation.

In April 2012, the issue was partially resolved as certain amounts of fuel were supplied with the involvement of the Red Cross.

Current budget[link]

Most of the Gaza Strip administration funding comes from outside as an aid, with large portion delivered by UN organizations directly to education and food supply. Most of the Gaza GDP of 700$ million comes as foreign humanitarian and direct economic support. Of those funds, the major part is supported by the U.S. and the European Union. Portions of the direct economic support have been provided by the Arab League, though it largely has not provided funds according to schedule. Among other alleged sources of Gaza administration budget is Iran.

A diplomatic source told Reuters that Iran had funded Hamas in the past with up to $300 million per year, but the flow of money had not been regular in 2011. "Payment has been in suspension since August", said the source.^[1]

On January 2012, some diplomatic sources have said that Turkey promised to provide Haniyeh’s Gaza Strip administration with $300 million to support its annual budget.^[1]

On April 2012, the Hamas government in Gaza approved its budget for 2012, which was up 25% year-on-year over 2011 budget, indicating that donors, including Iran, benefactors in the Islamic world and Palestinian expatriates, are still heavily funding the movement.^[32] Chief of Gaza's parliament's budget committee Jamal Nassar said the 2012 budget is $769 million, compared to $630 million in 2011.^[32]

Health[link]

A study carried out by Johns Hopkins University (U.S.) and Al-Quds University (in Abu Dis) for CARE International in late 2002 revealed very high levels of dietary deficiency among the Palestinian population. The study found that 17.5% of children aged 6–59 months suffered from chronic malnutrition. 53% of women of reproductive age and 44% of children were found to be anemic. After the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip health conditions in Gaza Strip faced new challenges. World Health Organization (WHO) expressed its concerns about the consequences of the Palestinian internal political fragmentation; the socioeconomic decline; military actions; and the physical, psychological and economic isolation on the health of the population in Gaza.^[33] Gazans who desire medical care in Israeli hospitals must apply for a medical visa permit. In 2007, State of Israel granted 7,176 permits and denied 1,627.^[34] Dr. Mohammed Abu Shaban, director of the Blood Tumors Department in Al-Rantisy Hospital in Gaza witnessed an increase in blood cancer. In March 2010 the department had seen 55 cases that year, compared to 20 to 25 cases normally seen in an entire year.^{[35][dubious – discuss]}According to the United Nations Development Programme, the average life expectancy in the Gaza Strip is 72.^[36][37] As part of the Palestinian territories, the Gaza Strip places 24th out of 135 countries according to Human Poverty Index.^[38] According to Palestinian leaders in the Gaza Strip, the majority of medical aid delivered are "past their expiration date." Mounir el-Barash, the director of donations in Gaza's health department, claims 30% of aid sent to Gaza is used.^[39]

Education[link]

University College of Applied Sciences, the largest college in Gaza

According to UNRWA figures, there are 640 schools in Gaza: 383 government schools, 221 UNRWA schools and 36 private schools, serving a total of 441,452 students.^[40] In 2010, Al Zahara, a private school in central Gaza introduced a special program for mental development based on math computations. The program was created in Malaysia in 1993, according to the school principal, Majed al-Bari.^[41]

The Community College of Applied Science and Technology (CCAST) was established in 1998 in Gaza City. In 2003, the college moved into its new campus and established the Gaza Polytechnic Institute (GPI) in 2006 in southern Gaza. In 2007, the college received accreditation to award BA degrees as the University College of Applied Sciences (UCAS). In 2010, the college had a student population of 6,000 in eight departments offering over 40 majors.^[42]

Demographics[link]

In 2010 approximately 1.6 million Palestinians lived in the Gaza Strip,^[26] of whom almost 1.0 million are UN-registered refugees.^[43] The majority of the Palestinians are descendants of refugees who were driven from or left their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The Strip's population has continued to increase since that time, one of the main reasons being a total fertility rate of almost 5 children per woman. In a ranking by total fertility rate, this places Gaza 26th of 223 regions.^[26]

Most of the inhabitants are Sunni Muslims, with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 Christians,^[44] making the region 99.3 percent Sunni Muslim and 0.7 percent Christian.^[26]

Before the Hamas takeover, approximately 500 women from the former Soviet Union lived in Gaza. During the Soviet era, the Communist Party subsidized university studies for thousands of students from Yemen, Egypt, Syria and the territories. Some of them married during their studies and brought their Russian and Ukrainian spouses back home. When Hamas came to power, over half of them left the Strip via the Erez crossing to Amman and flew back to Eastern Europe.^[45]

Culture and sports[link]

Mosque near the border with Israel

The Gaza Strip has been home to a significant branch of the contemporary Palestinian art movement since the mid 20th century. Notable artists include painters Fayez Sersawi, Abdul Rahman al Muzayan and Ismail Shammout, and media artists Taysir Batniji (who lives in France) and Laila al Shawa (who lives in London). An emerging generation of artists is also active in nonprofit art organizations such as Windows From Gaza and Eltiqa Group, which regularly host exhibitions and events open to the public.^[46]

In 2010, Gaza inaugurated its first Olympic-size swimming pool at the As-Sadaka club. The opening ceremony was held by the Islamic Society.^[47] The swimming team of as-Sadaka holds several gold and silver medals from Palestinian swimming competitions.^[48]

Transport and communication[link]

Damaged part of Gaza airport, May 2002

The road network in Gaza is underdeveloped. A single standard gauge railway line that ran the length of the Strip from north to south is not operative. Prior to 1948 the line connected to the Egyptian railway system to the south, as well as what then became the Israeli system to the north. Plans to build a port were halted after the outbreak of the al-Aqsa Intifada. The Yasser Arafat International Airport opened on 24 November 1998 after the signing of the Oslo II Accord and the Wye River Memorandum. It was closed by Israel in October 2000. Its radar station and control tower were destroyed by Israel Defense Forces aircraft in 2001 during the al-Aqsa Intifada, and bulldozers razed the runway in January 2002.^[49][50] The only remaining runway is at the Gaza Airstrip. However, the airspace over Gaza is blockaded by the Israeli Air Force.

The Gaza Strip has rudimentary land line telephone service provided by an open-wire system, as well as extensive mobile telephone services provided by PalTel (Jawwal) and Israeli providers such as Cellcom. Gaza is serviced by four internet service providers that now compete for ADSL and dial-up customers. Most Gaza households have a radio and a TV (70%+), and approximately 20% have a personal computer. People living in Gaza have access to FTA satellite programs, broadcast TV from the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, the Israel Broadcasting Authority, and the Second Israeli Broadcasting Authority.^[51]

See also[link]

• Palestinian government
• Hamastan
• Palestinian political violence

References[link]