conflict between the secular left-wing and the fundamentalist right-wing forces in the State of Palestine
Factsheet
Map of the Gaza Strip
Mohammed Dahlan
Hossam al-Astal
Rami Khalas
Map of the Gaza Strip
Mohammed Dahlan
Hossam al-Astal
Rami Khalas
Videos
As this might be the difference between a two front war (Hezbollah from the north) and a three front war (from the West bank) for Israel.
Im fairly new to this so please excuse me if this is considered common knowledge in this group. I have tried finding info online.
Most people including many Palestinians and Pro-Palestinian supporters seems to agree that Palestinian Liberation Organization PLO/ Fatah / Palestinian Authority (PA) is very corrupt and deeply unpopular with the Palestinian people.
Palestinian poll shows a rise in Hamas support and close to 90% wanting US-backed Abbas to resign https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-palestinians-opinion-poll-wartime-views-a0baade915619cd070b5393844bc4514
I am not even talking about general elections. I am talking about civil war like in 2007 in Gaza where more than 160 people were killed and over 700 people were wounded, but this time in the West Bank https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gaza_(2007).
Some might argue what if IDF manages to eliminate Hamas in Gaza, wouldnt that mean Hamas will be severely weakened ? How would a weakened Hamas confront PLO in the West Bank ? Others also suggest that Hamas could not be defeated, at least not by bullets and bombs, hence the Hamas ideology could very well still survive, evolve, morph into another organization Hamas 2.0, a different Hamas branch (West Bank) with different leaders but same fervent ideology etc… in time with the financing from the Ayatollah and support by the people, it could easily refill its ranks again and rebuild its forces. But this time, to overthrow PLO, takeover West Bank and consolidate its power in the West Bank, which will be alot more lucrative than the Gaza Strip, more people, more taxes, more donations, maybe even more legitimacy if Hamas can replace PLO at the United Nations representive for the State of Palestine.
The Battle of Gaza in 2007 between Hamas and PLO only lasted 6 days lol… and Hamas won the battle, hence ruled Gaza ever since. There will probably be condemnation from UN, USA, Europe of any civil war in the West Bank, the usual speech, uphold international rule of law, encourage dialogue to resolve disputes peacefully, remind the parties to protect civilians etc… but rest assured nobody is sending any boots on the ground to join any civil war, nor should they…nobody wants to die in a foreign conflict 6,000 miles away in a foreign land. So PLO will be on its own and if history is anything to judge PLO military capabilities, maybe this civil war between Hamas and PLO will be over in a week time like it did last time ?
Of course, after Hamas consolidated its power in the West Bank, it will most likely go after Israel yet again, with so many Israeli settlements within striking distance. This time, there wont be a labyrinth of Hamas tunnels in the West Bank, I think the geological makeup of the West Bank is different and with IDF ever watchful eye, wont be that easy to construct a labyrinth of Hamas tunnels and it takes time constructing tunnels.
I recalled in the past when Arafat was a militant leader, he too moved alot setting up PLO/ Fatah strongholds in Jordan, Algeria, Lebanon, etc… At this moment, I think its unlikely that Israel will agree to any safe passage for Hamas fighters from Gaza to move and relocate to the West Bank, but that doesnt mean there arent already existing Hamas members active in the West Bank, who could take up the mantle.
I didnt talk about Gaza, wanted this discussion to focus on the West Bank.
Questions :
Could Hamas overthrow PLO and takeover the West Bank ?
What would that mean for Palestine if Hamas tookover the West Bank?
What should Israel do if anything ?
What should Palestinians and Pro-Palestinian supporters do if anything ?
What should Jordan and the Arab world do if anything ?