In a reversal, Hamas has vehemently denied any connection to the recent rocket launch in Jenin. When the rocket was fired earlier this week, a Hamas operative took credit for the cell that launched it. However, on their official channel, Hamas as a group wrote: "We deny the responsibility for firing the rockets, and we had no coordination with any party to launch them. We will not be able to claim something that does not belong to us. We will stand behind every event that we publish on our official website."
Despite Hamas’s extreme public hostility toward the state of Israel, this bizarre statement is part of a chain of events quietly taking place in recent months indicating a possible face-lift the terrorist organization is going through, perhaps even in preparation for the end of Mahmoud Abbas’s regime when they expect to take over the Palestinian Authority.
For starters, it should be noted that it is not a far-fetched idea to assume Israel would accept the rule of Hamas in the Palestinian Authority under certain conditions; conditions which their leadership would also accept if it means absolute power in the Palestinian territories. The PLO and the Fatah branch that controls it, who together created the Palestinian Authority and have been ruling it ever since are both terrorist organizations of the same magnitude as Hamas. In the 70s and 80s, it was impossible to imagine a scenario in which the State of Israel would seek to empower the PLO and its rising Fatah faction, a militant group trying to kill Israelis on a daily and undermining the Jewish right to self-determination, yet that is exactly what happened.
Palestinian terrorists attempted to fire rockets from the West Bank at Israel on June 26 in an escalation of tactics. The rockets, launched near Jenin, fell short inside the West Bank, causing no damage or casualties: https://t.co/3GVTMtCl41
— FDD (@FDD) June 27, 2023
Prime Minister Netanyahu is most recently quoted saying at a Knesset meeting "We are preparing for the day after Abu Mazen (Abbas). We need the Palestinian Authority. We cannot allow it to collapse. We also do not want it to collapse. We are ready to help it financially. We have an interest in the Authority continuing to work." While obviously later stressing he has no intention of aiding the aspirations of statehood for the PA, it seems Netanyahu is more than willing to strike a deal with the enemy to ensure the continued existence of a semi-sovereign governing authority for Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza purely out of logistical reasons. The reason for striking such a deal with Hamas and not Fatah would be to try and align Israel with the organization polling better in the Palestinian Authority, which is indeed Hamas.
Attempted rocket fire from the West Bank: What happened: An organisation called the “Ayyash Battalion,” affiliated to the military wing of Hamas, launched two rockets from the Jenin area towards the Israeli community of Moshav Ram On, just north of… BICOM https://t.co/8ng7u1QxMz pic.twitter.com/yfFgxFKYz8
— Jewish Community (@JComm_NewsFeeds) June 28, 2023
The widely published statement by Hamas clarifying the rocket fire from Jenin had nothing to do with them directly connects to their reluctant behavior to attack Israel or join forces with the Islamic Jihad during the last IDF operation in Gaza. True, Hamas had an interest in allowing Israel to wipe out the Jihad’s influence to solidify their rule in Gaza, but that reason could not be the only thing preventing them from firing even a single rocket.
IDF officials downplayed the launching of two rockets from the #Jenin area yesterday toward Israeli territory, noting that #Hamas did not claim responsibility for the rocket launches, and said that the purpose of the rockets was to "sow fear" using a "#Tiktok video." pic.twitter.com/noLmkDli8O
— Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) June 27, 2023
In regards to people who may be reading this while reminding themselves of the recent terrorist attack in Eli carried out by Hamas culprits, keep in mind that Hamas is indeed still a terrorist organization with many different branches, some also not necessarily in tune with the direction of the main leadership. Also, like anything in life, Israeli-Palestinian politics are not black-and-white; Fatah which is Abu Mazen’s prized terrorist group still commits murderous acts to this day despite its direct collaboration with the Israeli government through its leaders. As Netanyahu mentioned earlier this week, the Israeli government directed by his policy currently needs some sort of governing authority for the Palestinian Authority, but that doesn’t mean they have to like or openly support that governed authority.
On Tuesday, a statement from Hamas members in Jenin refuted any involvement in the dummy rocket launch that took place on Monday. pic.twitter.com/vGBKp6R7ji
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) June 28, 2023
When it comes to the security policy of the Likud party, supported by a majority of Israelis even those who did not vote for them for other reasons, practicality is the name of the game. This train of thought requires one to abandon any emotionally-driven opinions and view the situation clearly with one intention, maintaining Israel’s prosperity and keeping its current borders on the map. Partnering with Hamas to ensure the continuation of the Palestinian Authority is not Netanyahu’s hopeful desire, but a conclusion based on the unfortunate direction of things and a temporary solution for a seemingly endless conflict.
