The Gaza Strip has been relatively quiet since the Hamas takeover; drivers are even afraid to go through a red light. Earlier this week, in the context of its efforts to show that Hamas can deliver, Hamas militiamen managed to free a lioness that had been stolen from a local zoo two years ago. The lioness, named Sabrina, was stolen by members of a notorious clan in Gaza City and kept as a pet in their garden. Abbas’s security forces never took action against the thieves, whose identity was known to all.

Many powerful clans have handed over their weapons to Hamas and Palestinians say they no longer see armed gangs on the streets. The Dughmush clan, whose members were responsible for the kidnapping of Johnston, was the last bastion to succumb to Hamas. In contrast, scenes of lawlessness and anarchy are still part of daily life in the West Bank. Abbas’s decision to outlaw armed militias has fallen on deaf ears as many Fatah gunmen continue to patrol the streets and to intimidate the public.

In a bid to undermine Hamas’s credibility, Abbas this week accused the movement of bringing al-Qaeda into Palestinian territories. The allegation was aimed at putting Hamas on equal footing with the arch-terrorist organisation and frightening the West about dealing with Hamas. But the Hamas spokesmen were quick to deny the charges and to challenge Abbas to provide evidence for his claim.

Hamas leaders are confident that it’s only a matter of time before the international community realises that the Islamic movement is the only address in the Gaza Strip. After the release of Johnston and Sabrina, Hamas is now hoping to strike a deal with Israel about the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit. Hamas hopes that a prisoner exchange with Israel would further boost its popularity in the Palestinian street and convince the US and EU that the movement is a serious and reliable partner.

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