Hamas: Seeking Hostages?

This report has one little tidbit in it that should raise hackles. It would appear that Hamas is attempting to keep high-ranking Fatah officials from leaving Gaza.

Gaza and the much larger West Bank are only about 45 km (30 miles) apart, with Israel in between, but they now appear poised to function as two separate territories.

"Gaza, unfortunately at this stage, is out of the control of the Palestinian Authority," Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said.

Hamas said it did not seek its own state in Gaza, where 1.5 million people are crowded along 40 km (25 miles) of coast.

Western powers imposed an aid embargo after Hamas came to power in March 2006 because it failed to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept interim peace deals.

Hamas set up checkpoints in Gaza to prevent high-ranking Fatah officials from leaving the coastal enclave. (Emphasis added)

Palestinian officials said hundreds of Fatah supporters were allowed by Israel and Egypt to travel to the West Bank.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said Israel had allowed people to leave Gaza for the West Bank on a case-by-case basis but the border was later closed.

"I will not live in a Hamas-run state," said Shadi, a fighter from Abbas's Fatah faction, after escaping Gaza for the occupied West Bank through an Israeli crossing point.

That does not look good at all. Hamas has strong backing from Iran and that country, of course, has a history of hostage taking. I suspect it would be a really good idea for them to get out if they can.