GAZA, June 14 (RIA Novosti) - Hamas fighters took control of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza on Thursday, after crushing resistance from pro-presidential Fatah, local eyewitnesses said.
"Hamas fighters are on the city streets, and are moving unhindered in Rafah - we see no signs of resistance from the Fatah side," one local said.
About 90 people have died since the fighting between the rival Palestinian factions escalated on Saturday, despite another so-called truce being reached between them the following Monday.
Residents of Gaza City have been stranded in their homes amid continual gunfire and explosions, and hospitals are struggling to cope with crowds of wounded, with limited resources and no electricity.
Israel has pledged not to intervene in the conflict unless Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization, gains full control over Gaza and threatens Israel.
The Israeli Armed Forces said all checkpoints on the Gaza border have been closed, including a terminal used to provide much-needed humanitarian aid to the impoverished, over-crowded Gaza Strip. Rafah, on the border with Egypt, also has a key checkpoint.
After hours of fierce fighting, Hamas fighters captured earlier Thursday one of Fatah's most important security installations in the Gaza Strip, the main Preventive Security headquarters.
The residence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza is now the last bastion of Fatah resistance, and is being defended by the presidential guard. Abbas is currently staying in the relatively peaceful West Bank city of Ramallah.
Meanwhile, local media cited Abbas' aide as saying that the executive council of the Palestine Liberation Organization had recommended to the Palestinian leader that he dismiss the government and declare a state of emergency on Palestinian territories.
"The PNA president is reviewing the recommendations and will make decision soon," Nabil Amr said.
Abbas, who is widely supported by the West and whose presidential guard is funded by the United States, is likely to withdraw Fatah from the governing coalition with Hamas, which it joined in March. Fatah threatened to pull out of the coalition in an announcement on Tuesday.
