In 2006, the
Israeli Defense Forces struck the office building of the Interior Ministry multiple times as a part of a bombing campaign in Gaza. The attacks were in response to the kidnapping of
Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier. In June 2007, the office in Gaza was taken by
Said Seyam as part of the
Hamas government of June 2007.
Hamas' takeover of Gaza left the Ramallah-based version of the
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) as the Palestinian leadership in only the
occupied West Bank and a
Hamas-led government in control of the Gaza Strip.
Fathi Hamad took office in January 2009, following assassination of Said Seyam on 15 January 2009 during the
2008–2009 Gaza War. In August 2012, following
government reshuffle by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyye,
Fathi Hamad remained in position. == Function ==