Recently, there has been an increase in the presence and activity of the Az Ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, in various locations in Judea and Samaria. This causes concern not only within the Israeli security establishment but also among the members of the Palestinian Authority itself.
The Palestinian Authority never fully recovered from the trauma of Hamas's bloody and violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in July 2007. Even after 16 years, the time has not been able to dull the harsh memories of the violent coup carried out by the terrorist organization supported by Iran, a move that resulted in the expulsion of Palestinian Authority personnel from the Strip. Since then, there has been a deep and ongoing conflict between Gaza and Ramallah.
The PA leadership is afraid of the possibility that Hamas will try to carry out a similar coup in the territories of Judea and Samaria, and thus "hijack" the government from them. In Ramallah, they point to the organization's attempts to establish a military infrastructure in the territories of Judea and Samaria, in preparation for such a day when they will be given the order to strike the PA.
in the past. Israel and the Palestinian Authority have more than one common interest vis-a-vis Hamas nowadays, and this struggle will likely continue.
— AbuAliEnglish (@AbuAliEnglishB1) May 6, 2023
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A former anonymous senior official in the Palestinian security apparatus spoke with Israeli journalists from “Israel Hayom” and said that Hamas continues its efforts to weaken the Palestinian Authority, and even strives to collapse it. "One of Hamas' ways to achieve this goal is to establish armed squads in the West Bank that will carry out attacks against Israel," the official said. "Hamas' assumption is that a massive Israeli military response will also harm the Palestinian Authority itself, similar to the process that occurred at the beginning of the second intifada when the PA's status under the leadership of Arafat was undermined following Israel," the official explained the idea behind the organization's actions.
Palestinian Telegram groups focusing on Judea & Samaria, some with over a hundred thousand followers have also seen an increase in anti-Palestinian Authority sentiment. Many accuse the internationally recognized Palestinian government of aiding 'the occupation forces' and many of the posts often show videos of PA police officers blocking roads where Israeli security were operating, offering that as proof of their complicity. Last week in Jenin, militants attacked police who tried to break up a rally that was becoming extreme. The damage to the police station was mocked on social media by militant sympathizers.
More depravity.
— Jay Engelmayer (@jengelmayer) May 3, 2023
Last night the Palestinian Police tried breaking up a terror rally in Jenin.
This is what happened. You can hear the joy as the damage to the police station is seen.
If you ever wondered why Israeli Forces have to police these areas, this is why. pic.twitter.com/3jj0DEpbDD
Meanwhile, the anonymous official concluded his remarks with the statement: "Hamas is trying to create a conflict between the PA and Israel, and is doing so by increasing resistance operations. The message to Israel is that the PA cannot help it live in security."
— Khaled Abu Toameh (@KhaledAbuToameh) May 4, 2023
It is possible that one of the reasons for the increase in Hamas activity in Judea and Samaria, and the publicity given to it, is related to reports of a possible return of Israel to the policy of targeted countermeasures against the organization's senior officials. The Hamas leadership wants to tighten the equation of connection between the arenas and convey a message that the elimination of senior officials in the Gaza Strip and abroad will have a toll on Israel in Judea and Samaria as well.
