Order Settles in Gaza, but Fears Persist

A Palestinian man rides his bicycle past a mural showing militant symbols in Gaza City, Tuesday, June 19, 2007. Just days after Hamas' takeover, the chaotic Gaza Strip was already more orderly Wednesday. But the new stability did not dispel deep fears that Islamic militants would retaliate against their vanquished enemies, impose their harsh interpretation of Muslim law and make Gaza an international pariah. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) (Khalil Hamra - AP)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- A week after Hamas' bloody takeover, the long chaotic Gaza Strip was settling into orderliness Wednesday.

Militiamen barred people from carrying weapons in public, a group calling itself "Volunteers for God" frantically directed traffic at jammed intersections and gunmen demanded storeowners freeze prices despite a food shortage.

But the new stability did not dispel deep fears among some Gazans that Hamas militants will retaliate against their vanquished enemies in the more secular Fatah movement and impose their severe interpretation of Muslim law, further isolating this poor coastal territory of 1.4 million Palestinians.

"We are leaving a bad situation _ but one we knew _ and entering an unknown situation, and that makes people nervous. What's coming?" said Abu Walid, a 19-year-old shopkeeper in Gaza City.

Tensions still remain high between Palestinian militants and Israel, as well. Israel fired missiles and sent tanks into Gaza on Wednesday, killing four Palestinians in the deadliest military action since Hamas militants took control. The Palestinians hit back with a barrage of rockets at the southern Israeli town of Sderot, slightly wounding two Israelis.

Some medicine and a few food staples, such as flour and sugar, already were in short supply because Israel sealed Gaza's border crossings _ including its only cargo terminal _ last week when Hamas routed Fatah fighters loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The United Nations said serious food shortages could strike in two to four weeks if the borders are not opened. On Tuesday, Israel allowed aid groups to bring in 10 trucks of food and two with medicine through a little-used gate on the Egyptian border and more was expected soon.

Red Cross spokesman Bernard Barrett said the group sent medicine for the hundreds of people wounded in last week's fighting and was preparing to ship more.

"Right now, because of the large number of cases, it has put a severe drain on both the medical supplies and on the staff in the hospitals," he said. "There's not an acute shortage, but resources are stretched and we are trying to bring in as much as possible."

In recent days, fighters from the Hamas militia known as the Executive Force have been going into markets and making radio announcements warning shopkeepers not to take advantage of fears of shortages by hiking prices.

"Nobody dares now raise their prices," said one vendor, Abu Walid.

In contrast, Hamas, which doesn't approve of smoking, has allowed the price of cigarettes to rise by as much as 30 percent.