Daily Show Writers: Going Gaza

From the writers of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart…

After being deserted all week, the streets of the Gaza Strip were soon alive with the celebration of death. Militants and citizens marched in victory, random buildings were blown up because they could be, guys in hoods carrying guns rode on cars, and, for the youngsters, the Bullwinkle float drifted victoriously down main street. That's the thing about Hamas — just when you start to think they're pure evil, they break out the Bullwinkle float. Those guys.

Even in the midst of Hamas' takeover, President Mahmoud Abbas attempted to cling to power, declaring a state of emergency in Gaza. Or as it's known locally, a "State of Gaza."

The home of Fatah's founder, Yasser Arafat, was also ransacked. Among the personal belongings seized by Hamas was Arafat's 1994 Nobel Peace Prize, so apparently, Hamas now literally has a Nobel Peace Prize. Granted, they didn't get it the usual way… but it probably still counts.

The struggle for power between the two factions actually began a year ago when Hamas won parliamentary elections and reluctantly brought Fatah into a coalition government. This began an uneasy partnership that crumbled last month when Hamas threw a dinner party and Fatah showed up empty handed. And to think, this all could have been avoided with one box of water crackers.

Following his ouster from Gaza, President Abbas dissolved the Palestinian government and "fired" Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, a member of Hamas. And in case you're wondering: If you're fired because you helped foment an armed rebellion that culminated in the overthrow of the government, no, you can't collect unemployment.

As pictures of Hamas militants flood the news, it's hard to see past the uniform garb of the black, cloth hoods. It's scary. Intimidating. But did they ever stop to think that maybe wearing a hood over their heads all day in the middle of the summer is what's making them so angry? Sometimes the solution is not only right before your very eyes… It's covering your whole face.

Many Palestinians in the West Bank fear the Hamas takeover of Gaza could deal a major blow to dreams of Palestinian statehood, while others believe that if statehood is still somehow achieved, that state would, quote, "totally blow chunks." Sometimes we forget, Palestinians have teenagers too.