---
title: "Hamas and Fatah: The Political Split"
description: "Hamas and Fatah compete over ideology, institutions and armed power. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leaving separate administrations that later reconciliation agreements have not reunited."
url: "https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle"
type: "resource-page"
locale: "en"
categories: ["Hamas vs Fatah: Arab Settler Power Struggle"]
---

# Hamas and Fatah: The Political Split

*Hamas and Fatah compete over ideology, institutions and armed power. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, leaving separate administrations that later reconciliation agreements have not reunited.*

Hamas and Fatah are rival movements with different ideologies and competing institutions. Hamas won the 2006 legislative election and seized Gaza’s security apparatus in June 2007; since then, Hamas has ruled Gaza while the Fatah-led PA has administered parts of Judea and Samaria. The UN documented the takeover and the resulting split. [The contemporaneous UN account](https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-200631/)

## How the split works

The rivalry is not only ideological. It concerns who governs, commands security forces, represents the movement internationally and controls public institutions. Fatah dominates the PLO, while Hamas remains outside full PLO membership. Hamas’s armed wing is separate from PA security services.

- [Ideology and political goals](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/hamas-vs-fatah-the-palestinian-ideological-chasm)
- [The 2006 election and 2007 takeover](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/the-2006-palestinian-election-and-the-civil-war)
- [Hamas and PA governance](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/divided-palestinian-governance-gaza-versus-the-west-bank)
- [Security coordination and armed factions](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/pa-israel-security-coordination-vs-hamas-s-armed-resistance)
- [The contest for the PLO](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/the-battle-for-the-plo-fatah-vs-hamas)
- [Why reconciliation agreements failed](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/the-battle-for-the-plo-fatah-vs-hamas)
- [Funding Hamas and the PA](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/financing-the-divide-hamas-and-palestinian-authority-funding)
- [PA succession rules and Hamas](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/palestinian-succession-crisis-fatah-s-vulnerability-and-hamas-s-strategy)

## Why agreements have not reunited them

Agreements in 2011, 2014 and 2017 proposed elections, shared institutions and a transfer of administrative duties. They did not resolve control of armed forces or lead to a unified administration. For the terms and outcomes, see [the reconciliation timeline](https://hasbara.co.il/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/the-battle-for-the-plo-fatah-vs-hamas).

## Pages

- [Hamas and Fatah: Ideology and Political Goals](/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/hamas-vs-fatah-the-palestinian-ideological-chasm.md)
- [The 2006 Election and 2007 Gaza Takeover](/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/the-2006-palestinian-election-and-the-civil-war.md)
- [Hamas in Gaza and the PA in Judea and Samaria](/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/divided-palestinian-governance-gaza-versus-the-west-bank.md)
- [Security Coordination and Armed Factions](/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/pa-israel-security-coordination-vs-hamas-s-armed-resistance.md)
- [The Contest for the PLO and Failed Reconciliation](/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/the-battle-for-the-plo-fatah-vs-hamas.md)
- [Funding Hamas and the PA](/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/financing-the-divide-hamas-and-palestinian-authority-funding.md)
- [PA Succession Rules and Hamas’s Position](/resources/hamas-vs-fatah-palestinian-power-struggle/palestinian-succession-crisis-fatah-s-vulnerability-and-hamas-s-strategy.md)

## Sources

- [un.org](https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-200631/)
- [aceproject.org](https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/mideast/PS/palestinian-final-report-legislative-and-council)
- [peacemaker.un.org](https://peacemaker.un.org/sites/default/files/document/files/2024/05/optagreementfatahhamas2011.pdf)