Protests in West Bank Following Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh

Protests Erupt in the West Bank Following the Assassination of Hamas Leader

On the same day that Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Iran, small gatherings of Palestinians emerged in various West Bank cities to express their discontent. Many participants were seen chanting pro-Hamas slogans and brandishing the group’s distinctive green flags.

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority (P.A.), which governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, openly condemned the killing of Haniyeh on July 31. In a move reflecting the gravity of the situation, the Palestinian Authority ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and declared a day of strikes and business closures. A wake held in honor of Haniyeh attracted political figures from across the West Bank, highlighting a rare moment of solidarity.

This wave of sympathy was particularly striking given the political landscape in the region. Unlike Gaza, which has been under Hamas’s control for nearly two decades, the West Bank is largely influenced by Fatah, Hamas’s primary rival and a more moderate faction. Historically, the Palestinian Authority has shown little tolerance for overt displays of support for armed groups, occasionally resorting to force to disband such gatherings.

In the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the Palestinian Authority has witnessed a concerning decline in its popularity in favor of groups like Hamas that advocate for armed resistance and are actively engaged in confrontations with Israel. A recent survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research indicates this shift in public sentiment.

Meanwhile, violent Israeli raids and attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank have surged, further complicating the situation. Israeli officials assert that these military operations are intended to prevent the emergence of a second front in the West Bank while the conflict in Gaza persists. They also accuse various armed factions in the West Bank of orchestrating plans to attack Israeli targets.

“The P.A. is acutely aware of the current political climate,” noted Tahani Mustafa, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group. “If they were to take a hardline approach against Hamas supporters now, it would lead to catastrophic consequences for their governance,” she emphasized.