AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday called for taking all possible measures to stop inter-Palestinian fighting and bring to an end bloodshed and the state of chaos prevailing in the Gaza Strip.

GAZA CITY (AFP) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency and sacked the government on Thursday as Hamas appeared set to seize full control of the Gaza Strip after days of ferocious gunbattles.

Hamas militants have hailed a series of military victories over rivals Fatah in the Gaza Strip as a new “liberation” of the territory.