Hamas maritime patrol in Gaza port
Hamas maritime patrol in Gaza portIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Hamas has impeded Palestinian Authority business owners seeking to enter the Gaza market, according to the Reuters news agency. The Islamic terrorist group is asking Judea and Samaria-based businesses to register in Gaza, where they would need to pay taxes a second time.

Hamas, for its part, accuses the Fatah-led PA of forcing Gaza businesses to register in Ramallah, and taking their taxes for itself.

Fatah and Hamas ran the PA together following the Hamas victory in PA parliamentary elections in 2006. However, the groups split in 2007 when Hamas took over Gaza in a violent coup.

Several attempts at reuniting the warring factions have failed. Each side has accused the other of failing to take unity talks seriously.

Fatah has much to lose if it reunites with Hamas, as the EU and the U.S. both consider Hamas to be a terrorist group, and could end donations to the Fatah-led PA if the two were to get together again. Hamas, for its part, has taken several steps to enforce Islamic law in Gaza since splitting with Fatah, a move the more secular-leaning Fatah opposes.

The split has led to uncertainty in negotiations between Israel and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. The PA says negotiations should lead to a new Arab state that includes Gaza, however, Hamas staunchly opposes negotiations, and Abbas has no power to impose a negotiated settlement on the group.

Despite the rift, PA businesses have shown an increased interest in Gaza since Israel decided in June to ease its blockade of Hamas. Instead of allowing only humanitarian goods such as food and medicine to enter Gaza via Israeli crossings, Israel now allows all goods with the exception of weapons and dual-purpose materials to enter the area.

Egypt has relaxed its blockade as well, and allows increased human traffic to and from the region.