In Palestine, conflicts between the rival political parties that control the pseudo-state's presidency and the parliament have spiraled into outright civil war. In Gaza, thugs loyal to the terrorist group Hamas, and its parliamentary majority, seized control of the offices of the Fatah president Mahmood Abbas, driving him and his loyalists out. The President responded by dissolving parliament, firing the Hamas prime minister, and granting himself emergency powers.

The move delighted the United States and European Union, who have always hated Hamas and refused to support any Palestinian government of which it was a part. The western aid that was cut off from Palestine following the Hamas election has now begun flowing freely once more.