Mahmoud Abbas' Absence Is Noticed In Gaza Crisis
Mahmoud Abbas has been praised by the international community for maintaining order in the West Bank. But for Palestinians there, he has neither been able to stop Israeli settlements nor bring Palestinians closer to independence, writes Lena Odgaard.
RAMALLAH — "GAZA, GAZA, GAZA" rung chants of a demonstration in Ramallah Saturday afternoon: "Out with Israel — Freedom for Palestine."
About 300 Palestinians marched through the streets of Ramallah to show sympathy for their fellow country men in Gaza. Since then sizes of demonstrations have grown with eye witnesses reporting of 500 in Ramallah Monday after all government employees went on strike in solidarity with Gaza. Demonstrations have been carried out throughout the West Bank in both cities and at checkpoints, where Israeli soldiers responded by shooting not only tear gas and rubber coated bullets but also used live ammunition, killing two young men.
The demonstrations and violent clashes signal sympathy with the more than 100 Palestinian victims of the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, but more so support of Hamas’ armed resistance of the Israeli occupation. For the past seven years President Mahmoud Abbas has been praised by the Western international community for his ability to maintain order in the West Bank, but for the Palestinians there he has neither been able to stop Israeli settlements nor bring Palestinians closer to independence. For many, Hamas' ability to target areas close to both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with their rockets ignited renewed hope that the party can chase Israel out of the Palestinian territories.
"It's not about killing Israelis or the number of casualties. It's about a dream of resisting," Palestinian journalist Mohammed Jaradat explained to Al-Monitor in Ramallah, emphasizing that he sees himself as politically independent and not a supporter of Hamas, "But Hamas proves that they can change the situation on the ground."
