Hamas’ options in Gaza are slimming by the day as the Palestinians face further suffering following the recent Gaza war. While Hamas weighs its limited means to overcome the worsening crisis, the movement opened the door to a rapprochement with former Fatah strongman and President Mahmoud Abbas’ arch rival, Mohammed Dahlan. A series of gestures in December between the two have led to the prospect of a detente.
On Dec. 18, Hamas allowed hundreds of Dahlan’s supporters to organize demonstrations in Gaza, during which they displayed posters attacking Abbas for remaining silent in the face of Gazan suffering and for impeding reconstruction work. The protesters demanded the ouster of Abbas and an end to the Palestinian Authority’s corruption and betrayal. These pro-Dahlan demonstrations, the first since Hamas seized control of Gaza in mid-2007, marked a pivotal shift in his relationship with Hamas. But it should be noted that the demonstrations did not have the unanimous approval of Hamas officials.
