The EU monitors who operated the crossing were reportedly evacuated safely. When Haniyeh later attempted to cross the border, an exchange of gunfire left one bodyguard dead and Haniyeh’s eldest son wounded. Hamas denounced the incident as an attempt by rival Fatah on Haniyeh’s life, prompting firefights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip between Hamas and Fatah forces. Haniyeh was quoted as saying that he knew who the alleged perpetrators were, but declined to identify them and appealed for Palestinian unity. Egypt has since offered to mediate the situation.
Haniyeh resigned on 15 February 2007 as part of the process to form a national unity government between Hamas and Fatah. He formed a new government on 18 March 2007 as head of a new cabinet that included Fatah as well as Hamas politicians.
On 14 June 2007, amid the Battle of Gaza, president Mahmoud Abbas announced the dissolution of the March 2007 unity government and the declaration of a state of emergency.Haniyeh was dismissed and Abbas ruled Gaza and the West Bank by presidential decree.[7]Around 2016, Haniyeh relocated from Gaza to Qatar. He maintained an office in Doha.