President Mahmoud Abbas dissolved the Hamas-led Palestinian unity government and declared a state of emergency Thursday night following bloody fighting throughout the Gaza Strip, snuffing out the candle to Palestinian power sharing.

“I [Abbas] have issued the following decree: the sacking of Prime Minister Ismail Haniya,” afpquoted him as saying. “Second, the proclamation of the state of emergency in all the Palestinian territories because of the criminal war in the Gaza Strip, the taking over of the security services of the Palestinian Authority, the military coup and the armed rebellion by outlaws.”

The dissolution of the government comes after a week that witnessed about 90 Palestinian deaths and scores more wounded during the fierce battle for dominance in the Gaza Strip. The Fatah-backed security forces of Abbas were greatly overwhelmed by Hamas loyalists that swept through Gaza, taking over security posts and strategic points.

In the southern city of Khan Younis, Hamas fighters tunneled under a Fatah security headquarters and exploded a 1-ton bomb that killed at least 13 people. This offensive gave the Hamas dominance in the city.

Then in Gaza City, Hamas took over the Preventive Security building, resulting in another 14 deaths and 80 wounded. Following the seizure, some Hamas fighters were seen kneeling down outside and touching their foreheads to the ground in prayer.

Announcing their victory in Gaza, Islam Shahawan, spokesman for Hamas’s militia, said, “We are telling our people that the past era has ended and will not return. The era of justice and Islamic rule have arrived.”

This massive assault in the Hamas-dominated Gaza Strip has many worried of the possible escalation of violence in the West Bank, where Fatah holds a majority. Already, reports have emerged of Hamas and Fatah gunmen exchanging fire in the West Bank city of Nablus.

To quell the potential for escalation in the West Bank, Fatah-linked security officials have conducted a round-up of key Hamas members through Ramallah and the surrounding areas; they have also announced that they have a list containing over 1,500 names of Hamas members who would be detained unless an immediate cease-fire is agreed upon.

But while a cease-fire may be possible, another Palestinian unity government is unlikely as Hamas said it could never again work in a power-sharing arrangement with Fatah.

Whatever the specific arrangement of a future Palestinian government, we expect two current trends to continue: the already heavy influence of Iran to grow stronger as radicalism increases; and the Palestinian war against Israel to intensify, culminating in a violent sacking of half of Jerusalem.