Hamas has seen a boost in its popularity in both the West Bank and Gaza after its declared victory over Israel's eight-day offensive in Gaza last month. The Fatah-backed Palestinian Authority in the West Bank even granted permission for Hamas to hold its annual anniversary rallies for the first time since 2007, which encouraged prospects of ending the division to be seen as more feasible than before.
However, digging beneath the surface of speeches and gestures, and the reality that reconciliation is probably going nowhere, the PA in particular has stepped up its campaign of political arrests to undercut the influence of Hamas or other opposition activists.
