Protests Erupt in the West Bank Following Assassination of Hamas Leader
On the day of the assassination of Hamas’s political leader in Iran, Ismail Haniyeh, small groups of Palestinians took to the streets across various cities in the West Bank. These demonstrators expressed their solidarity with Hamas, chanting pro-Hamas slogans and waving the group’s characteristic green flags.
Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority (P.A.), which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, publicly condemned the killing that occurred on July 31. In a show of mourning, the Palestinian Authority ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and declared a day of strikes and business closures. Meanwhile, a wake for Mr. Haniyeh attracted a diverse array of political leaders from throughout the West Bank.
This significant outpouring of support was particularly striking given the political landscape of the region. Unlike Gaza, where Hamas has maintained control for nearly twenty years, the West Bank is largely dominated by Fatah, Hamas’s main rival, which is considered more moderate. Historically, the Palestinian Authority has exhibited little patience for open displays of allegiance to armed groups, sometimes resorting to force to disperse such gatherings.
Over the past ten months, following the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the Palestinian Authority has faced increasing challenges to its authority and support. Many Palestinians are gravitating towards factions like Hamas, which advocate for armed resistance against Israel and actively engage in conflict. This shift has been documented in a recent poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, which highlights the changing sentiments among the populace.
Compounding these challenges, Israeli raids and assaults by Jewish settlers against Palestinian residents in the West Bank have surged. Israeli officials assert that these operations are intended to thwart the emergence of a second front in the West Bank while the conflict in Gaza persists. Furthermore, Israel has accused certain armed groups within the West Bank of conspiring to carry out attacks against its forces.
According to Tahani Mustafa, a senior analyst specializing in Palestine at the International Crisis Group, the Palestinian Authority is acutely aware of the prevailing sentiments among the population. She remarked, “The P.A. is reading the room right now. If they were to clamp down on Hamas supporters, it would be absolutely disastrous.” This indicates the precarious position of the Palestinian Authority as it navigates the complexities of internal and external pressures in a rapidly evolving political landscape.
