Hamas storms major Fatah compound in Gaza

Hamas fighters on Thursday raised the green flags of the Islamist movement over one of the last Gaza City bastions of forces loyal to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, witnesses said.

Some of the defenders fled the heavily fortified Preventive Security headquarters while others surrendered, promised "safe passage home" in an announcement on Hamas radio.
Gunfire still sounded from nearby rooftops where other Fatah men were shooting at Hamas attackers, witnesses said. Medical workers said at least 10 people were wounded in the battle.

Fatah denied the headquarters had fallen, but green Hamas flags fluttered from its rooftop -- a powerful symbol to Gazans that Hamas had largely taken charge after five days of bloodshed in the territory in which more than 80 people have been killed.
"It's a war zone. Since yesterday we have been living the most horrible time of our life," one neighbor, Sadi, said by telephone as he tried to calm his weeping children. Link