Fatah spokesman Maher Miqdad has charged that Hamas is taking orders directly from Iran, which is funding the terrorist party. The militia war pits the Iranian-backed Hamas against the American-backed Fatah faction, led by Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.



American Middle East military envoy Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton last week denied charges that Fatah was not repelling Hamas attacks, but by Wednesday afternoon, Hamas held firm control of most security positions in the entire Gaza area.