There seems to be no end in sight for the clashes between the brothers in Gaza. Dozens from rival factions, Hamas and Fatah, have been killed since the start of the fighting a week ago.
Another victim of the conflict is the national talks aimed to form a unity government. The Hamas government has suspended the talks to protest the violence.
But the real victim could well be the future of the nation. Palestinians cannot expect the world to care about their cause whilst they fight each other over narrow political gains.
The Israeli government has never been weaker. The Israelis lost trust in their leaders following the war on Lebanon. Chief of Staff Dan Halutz resigned earlier this month and others are expected to follow suit.
Observers thought the Palestinian leadership would seize the opportunity to exert pressure on the Jewish state to resume negotiations to reach a just and lasting settlement.
But to the disappointment of the Arab world, the Palestinians started killing each other. And instead of speaking with one voice, they seem to have lost the ability to speak to each other.
The two factions must make a choice. Hamas must choose between being the honest armed (and radical) resistance movement dedicated to fighting the occupation or being the party, which leads the government. It cannot be both.
And Fatah must either choose to commit itself to democracy and accept that rival Hamas had won the elections, fair and square, and deserved to head the government or threaten to put itself outside the frame of the law by sponsoring street thugs who kidnap or kill.
The Palestinian people are sick and tired of opportunists who claim to represent the "cause" for selfish gains.
Hamas and Fatah need to listen to the voice of reason and train their anger, and guns, on the right enemy.
