Gaza situation

I am writing with reference to: "The Gaza Horror Show," by Forrest Cookson (Feb. 2).
Forrest Cookson must ask: Why is Hamas brutalizing fellow Palestinians in Gaza? Both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas have been elected by the Palestinian people. Why are they slaughtering each other?
During the 2007 fighting for control of Gaza, Hamas was accused by Human Rights Watch of "violations of international humanitarian law, in some cases amounting to war crimes." These crimes include killing of non-combatants, killing of sick and injured inside hospitals and summary executions. According to Human Rights Watch: "Hamas military forces captured 28-year-old Muhammad Swairki, a cook for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's presidential guards, and executed him by throwing him to his death.
Such brutality of Hamas toward fellow Palestinians stands in stark contrast with the moderation it had shown to kidnapped BBC journalist Allan Johnston by arranging his release. But why Hamas showed no mercy to Swairki, a poor Palestinain cook? The answer may be that Hamas thinks that by electing, the Palestinain people have given it the mandate to slaughter fellow Palestinians who support its rival Fatah.
The only solution to this bloodletting will be to ask the Palestinians to renounce violence and try to resolve the conflict though non-violent political means.