As the day approaches when the Israeli government plans to uproot more than 8,000 Jews from their homes in the Gush Katif Settlement Bloc in the Gaza Strip, tensions continue to escalate not only among Jews, but also among Palestinians. Notwithstanding, two of the leading terrorist organizations, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have agreed to cooperate with the Palestinian Authority (PA) during the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. “Hamas will join the Palestinian people in celebrating Israeli withdrawal to emphasize that the [armed] resistance is responsible for the liberation of these territories,” said Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar. The PA, Hamas and Islamic Jihad plan to hold joint victory celebrations after they take over the Jewish communities in Gush Katif.