Skip to main content

Hamas failing to rally West Bank against US peace plan

Security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority is the main obstacle to Hamas’ efforts to mobilize armed resistance in the West Bank after the unveiling of the US peace plan.
A banner placed by Hamas with a slogan reading in Arabic: " no to the deal of the century" (US-prosed peace plan) is pictured as Palestinian Muslim worshippers gather at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, on February 14, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP) (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Hamas and other Palestinian factions have been trying to spark armed resistance in the West Bank to the recently revealed US Mideast peace plan, but they face several challenges. Recent incidents there have been limited to sporadic individual attacks against Israeli targets.

Palestinians have roundly rejected the US peace plan, dubbed the “deal of the century” by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Since the United States released details of the plan Jan. 28, Hamas has been making intense efforts to ignite the West Bank. But it's been stifled in part by the continued security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). The PA has imposed absolute control over the West Bank, which keeps Hamas from finding a foothold there, be it financially, militarily or politically.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.