Paul Martin, in Gaza City:

"To an extent, Hamas is trying to appear magnanimous in victory today. The group's military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam brigades, has released some Fatah prisoners but others are still under questioning and are still being interviewed.

"However, Hamas has also given ultimatums to a variety of opponents to hand over their weaponry today. So far, some of the demands have been resisted by large clans who have significant influence in Gaza. Enforcement action has been threatened, and further confrontations cannot be ruled out.

"Spontaneous celebrations are being held around the territory. Fighters have been seen parading around the streets, some in vehicles, shooting in celebration into the air. Hamas had originally planned Friday prayers at Mahmoud Abbas's Presidential compound, which was meant to be extremely symbolic, but that was cancelled because it was feared that explosive devices were still in the compound. This decision was not motivated by a desire to ease tensions with Fatah - it appears to have been purely a security decision.

"Today I was at the home in Gaza City of Muhammad Dahlan, the most reviled of all the Fatah leaders, which has been looted quite dramatically. The roof of his house was still smouldering, and everything had been stolen including the toilets, baths, showers, and even the light-fittings.

"It was not clear who had been responsible for this looting but, throughout the morning, a variety of Hamas men arrived at Dahlan's place and fired heavy ammunition into the air in his garden, and from the balcony."

Sonia Verma in Ramallah, West Bank:

"There is a sense of absolute depression and despair here, in this Fatah heartland.

"At one hotel in Ramallah, a number of the top Fatah security leaders and supporters exiled from Gaza are staying. A large number of them won't leave their rooms as they are terrified of being tracked down and killed. They won't even come down to the lobby, and they order room service. They are all worried about what will happen to their families in Gaza. I spoke to one such leader by telephone, who told me that the mood among her and her colleagues is terrible.

"Among both the rank-and-file Palestinian Fatah supporters and the leadership there is a growing anger at the handling of the situation by President Mahmoud Abbas, who is perceived to have been extremely weak.

"There have been a large number of people making pilgramages in Gaza and the West Bank to Yassir Arafat's grave, and speaking of how let down they feel by his successor.

"Amid the depression, one small benefit for Fatah is likely to be an influx of Western funding now that the unity Government with Hamas has come to an end.

"Mr Abbas is also known to have talked to a number of international leaders about aid for the Palestinians in Gaza, who are facing a humanitarian crisis."

Times Recommends

• Please help: maimed children of war want their lives back
• Cabal seizes diamond riches to buy power
• White House gatecrashers got to the president