Thursday May 18, 2006, Gaza City, Palestinian Territories

PT Hamas and Palestinian Authority Tension

Supporters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rally in the streets to protest the arrival of a rival security force from Hamas, which now controls the Parliament in Gaza City. Clashes over the past week have heightened tensions as both groups have deployed heavily armed men, in some cases to patrol the same streets.

Supporters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rally in the streets to protest the arrival of a rival security force from Hamas

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Monday May 22, 2006, Gaza City, Palestinian Territories

PT Hamas Battle Fatah Militia

Civilians caught in a crossfire run for safety as Hamas gunmen take cover after exchanging gunfire with militia-members loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party throughout the streets of Gaza City, wounding dozens. Tensions between the groups, Hamas representing the new Parliament, and Fatah representing the ousted former majority party have seen sporadic violence, but nothing like this extended daylight gun-battle.

Civilians caught in a crossfire run for safety as Hamas gunmen take cover after exchanging gunfire with militia-members loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah Party.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday February 5, 2006, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon Muslim rioters burn Danish consulate

Angered by a series of cartoons depicting the Muslim Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist, which have been run widely in Europe, rioters burn and loot the Danish consulate in a primarily Christian neighborhood Sunday.

Rioters burn and loot the Danish consulate.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

February 2007, Gaza

Islamic Army of Gaza responsible for kidnappings

Members of the Jaysh-Islamiyah (Islamic Army), a radical group in the Gaza Strip pose for photographs in an undisclosed location. The group has kidnapped several foreign journalists and participated in the operation to kidnap the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who remains in captivity. The group claims to still be holding him but Hamas and other groups dispute the claim.

Members of the Jaysh-Islamiyah pose for a picture in an undisclosed location.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Tuesday February 6, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories

Hamas members rally in Gaza

Hamas supporters took to the streets of Gaza to protest recent attacks by militant gunmen loyal to political rival, Fatah. Some 60 people have died and 200 have been wounded in the past ten days of factional clashes.

Hamas supporters march with flags at a rally.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Tuesday February 13, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories

Palestinian family declares war on Hamas

Ahmed Dagmosh leads an army consisting of his family and fellow clan members in their fight for revenge against Hamas for the murder of his brother, Mahmoud. He claims Mahmoud was pointlessly executed by Hamas gunmen and has vowed to kill all six of the men who shot him. He has already killed one Hamas member and wounded another in his hunt for revenge but now lives in hiding as he's considered the number one enemy of Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Ahmed Dagmosh

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Thursday February 15, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza

Most feared Dagmosh family protects land in Gaza City

The Dagmosh family of Gaza City is among the biggest and most feared families in Gaza. The family is currently fighting a serious feud with members of the Hamas faction. Their gunmen constantly patrol their family area in search of infiltrators from Hamas and other rival clans.

Ahmed (Abu Monsur) Dagmosh (L) jokes with the gunmen protecting him in the family's vast and guarded section of Gaza City. Ahmed has sword revenge against Hamas for the murder of his brother, Mahmoud in December. After killing two of the 16 Hamas men he holds responsible for his brother's death, Ahemd now lives on the run, sleeping in fields to protect Dagmosh land and always surrounded by armed clan members.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday February 18, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza

Fatah militants complain over no pay

Militants loyal to President Abu Mazen's Fatah Party in its sometimes violent struggle against Hamas protest by the thousands in downtown Gaza. They claim to have trained for eight months without pay.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Monday February 19, 2007, Rafah, Gaza

Rafah crossing to Egypt turns hellish

Hundreds of Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip wait -- in some cases more than 16 hours -- for a chance to cross into Egypt. The border crossing has been mostly closed the past few months by the Israeli military citing security concerns but even on a day when it was open, only one minibus of 15 passengers had actually crossed in 16 hours.

A Palestinian woman dozes in the back seat of her taxi as she waits to pass through the Rafah crossing.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Tuesday February 20, 2007, Jabalya Refugee Camp, Gaza

Palestinian soccer nonexistent after Israeli bombing and government neglect

Mohammed Shinnbarri looks at the picture of his son Nahid, who was killed last summer in he Beit Hanoun camp, where the family lived, while playing soccer. The camp comes under heavy Israeli fire because militants use nearby fields to shoot rockets into nearby Israeli towns. The family has since moved to the slightly safer Jabalya Camp.

Mohammed Shinnbarri looks at the picture of his son Nahid, who was killed last summer in he Beit Hanoun camp.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Monday February 5, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza

Students return to examine burned Isamic University

Students and faculty returned to the campus of Gaza's Islamic University, where Hamas was originally formed, which was looted and burned by the presidential guard loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas during fighting between Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas. The fighting was part of a constant power struggle between the two that arose when Hamas won control of the parliament last year. Periodic clashes turned widespread with over 25 killed and more than 200 wounded.

A student surveys the damage at the University.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Friday February 9, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza

Hamas prays and protests al-Aqsa construction

Members of Hamas pray in the ruins of the Islamic University amid protests over Israeli construction near the holy site of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The Friday holy day sermon also endorsed yesterday's Fatah-Hamas peace agreement people hope will end the fighting that has killed over 60 people and wounded 200, in addition to seeing much of the University destroyed.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Friday February 9, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza

Hamas prays and protests al-Aqsa construction

Members of Hamas pray in the ruins of the Islamic University amid protests over Israeli construction near the holy site of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The Friday holy day sermon also endorsed yesterday's Fatah-Hamas peace agreement people hope will end the fighting that has killed over 60 people and wounded 200, in addition to seeing much of the University destroyed.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Friday February 9, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza

Hamas prays and protests al-Aqsa construction

Members of Hamas pray in the ruins of the Islamic University amid protests over Israeli construction near the holy site of al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The Friday holy day sermon also endorsed yesterday's Fatah-Hamas peace agreement people hope will end the fighting that has killed over 60 people and wounded 200, in addition to seeing much of the University destroyed.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 2007, Khan Younis Refugee Camp, Gaza

Daily life of Hamas Interior Ministry Police

Based in a former Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip, the Interior Ministry Police -- which is currently controlled by Hamas, although that is supposed to change in a coming series of negotiations with the rival Fatah Party -- live, eat, play, train and pray in between shifts patrolling the area. They recently waged a series of bloody clashes with gunmen aligned with their Fatah rivals but for now, the political agreement appears to be holding.

Members of the Interior Ministry Police play volleyball.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 2007, Khan Younis Refugee Camp, Gaza

Daily life of Hamas Interior Ministry Police

Based in a former Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip, the Interior Ministry Police -- which is currently controlled by Hamas, although that is supposed to change in a coming series of negotiations with the rival Fatah Party -- live, eat, play, train and pray in between shifts patrolling the area. They recently waged a series of bloody clashes with gunmen aligned with their Fatah rivals but for now, the political agreement appears to be holding.

Rifles are seen leaned up against the wall as members of the Interior Ministry Police pray.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 2007, Khan Younis Refugee Camp, Gaza

Daily life of Hamas Interior Ministry Police

Based in a former Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip, the Interior Ministry Police -- which is currently controlled by Hamas, although that is supposed to change in a coming series of negotiations with the rival Fatah Party -- live, eat, play, train and pray in between shifts patrolling the area. They recently waged a series of bloody clashes with gunmen aligned with their Fatah rivals but for now, the political agreement appears to be holding.

Members of the Interior Ministry Police serve food.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 2007, Khan Younis Refugee Camp, Gaza

Daily life of Hamas Interior Ministry Police

Based in a former Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip, the Interior Ministry Police -- which is currently controlled by Hamas, although that is supposed to change in a coming series of negotiations with the rival Fatah Party -- live, eat, play, train and pray in between shifts patrolling the area. They recently waged a series of bloody clashes with gunmen aligned with their Fatah rivals but for now, the political agreement appears to be holding.

Members of the Interior Ministry Police eat a meal together.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday February 11, 2007, Khan Younis Refugee Camp, Gaza

Daily life of Hamas Interior Ministry Police

Based in a former Israeli settlement in the Gaza Strip, the Interior Ministry Police -- which is currently controlled by Hamas, although that is supposed to change in a coming series of negotiations with the rival Fatah Party -- live, eat, play, train and pray in between shifts patrolling the area. They recently waged a series of bloody clashes with gunmen aligned with their Fatah rivals but for now, the political agreement appears to be holding.

Members of the Interior Ministry Police sit and talk.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Tuesday February 13, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza

Funeral of slain al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade fighter

Friends, family and colleagues mourn and bury Mohammed Saidi, a fighter with the Fatah's Party's armed wing, al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades. He was killed by the IDF early Tuesday while attempting to plant a bomb on the Israeli side of the fence that surrounds the Gaza Strip.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Tuesday February 13, 2007, Gaza City, Gaza

Funeral of slain al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade fighter

Friends, family and colleagues mourn and bury Mohammed Saidi, a fighter with the Fatah's Party's armed wing, al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigades. He was killed by the IDF early Tuesday while attempting to plant a bomb on the Israeli side of the fence that surrounds the Gaza Strip.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Saturday July 15, 2006, Beirut

Lebanon Israeli strikes

A family makes a home in a school converted to a shelter for families forced to flee shelling in the south. Thousands of mostly Lebanese Shiites have fled the fighting in the south, while thousands more remain trapped behind destroyed bridges and highways as Hezbollah and the IDF bomb each other.

A family makes a home in a school converted to a shelter for families forced to flee shelling.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Thursday July 13, 2006, Damour, Lebanon

Lebanon Israeli reprisal attacks

Refugees fleeing Israeli air-strikes in south Lebanon make their way over a bridge destroyed by Israeli jets. Much of south Lebanon has been cut off from the rest of the country, trapping thousands of residents trying to flee the Israeli attacks.

Refugees fleeing Israeli air-strikes in south Lebanon make their way over a bridge destroyed by Israeli jets.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday July 16, 2006, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon Israeli reprisal attacks

A Hezbollah fighter defiantly waves at Israeli warplanes overhead in Beirut's Haret Hreik neighborhood after at least 18 bombs struck the area.

A Hezbollah fighter defiantly waves at Israeli warplanes overhead in the midst of rubble.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Monday July 17, 2006, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon Israeli plane apparently shot down

Hezbollah gunmen run from an air strike near a wreckage possibly of a discarded fuel tank that the group claimed was a downed by Israeli jet. The wreckage burns in the background of suburban Beirut. Jet fuel coated the area and set huge sections of ground on fire as well as vehicles.

Hezbollah gunmen run from an air strike near a wreckage possibly of a discarded fuel tank.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Wednesday August 9, 2006, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon Funerals for civilian victims in Beirut

The families of dozens of people killed when Israeli jets bombed a five story apartment building in Beirut mourn and bury their dead. During the burial, Israeli forces shelled the area nine times in 30 minutes, including one round which landed within 300 meters.

The families of dozens of people killed mourn and bury their dead.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Sunday July 16, 2006, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon Israeli Reprisal Attacks

A Lebanese Shiite woman surveys the damage on her street after at least 18 Israeli air-strikes destroyed the southern Beirut neighborhood of Haret Hreik, an area controlled by Hezbollah.

A Lebanese Shiite woman surveys the damage on her street after at least 18 Israeli air-strikes destroyed the neighborhood.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Wednesday August 9, 2006, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanon Funerals for civilian victims in Beirut

The families of dozens of people killed when Israeli jets bombed a five story apartment building in Beirut mourn and bury their dead. During the burial, Israeli forces shelled the area nine times in 30 minutes, including one round which landed within 300 meters.

The families of dozens of people killed mourn and bury their dead.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Monday June 12, 2006, Ghazni, Afghanistan

US and Afghan forces on the trail of the Taliban

Members of the Connecticut National Guard fire mortars from their base in support of operations outside Ghazni, Afghanistan.

Members of the Connecticut National Guard fire mortars from their base.

Credit: Mitchell Prothero / Polaris

Mitchell Prothero