Fatah gunmen storm parliament building

Fatah gunmen today stormed the Palestinian parliament building and the Education Ministry, both Hamas-controlled, witnesses said.

The gunmen tried to seize the deputy parliament speaker, Hassan Kreisheh, an independent, but were stopped by Fatah lawmakers. They also entered the Education Ministry, witnesses said.

In the West Bank city of Nablus, Fatah gunmen took over the Hamas-controlled city council and planted the Fatah flag on the top of the building.

Many government employees tied to Hamas had not showed up for work today, the start of the work week in the West Bank, after Hamas took control of Gaza in a military campaign. Apparently, the staff feared reprisals.

A member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, a violent offshoot of Fatah, said his group planned to take control of all Hamas institutions, in response to Hamas’ takeover of Gaza.