Hamas and PLO: A History of Confrontation
The Palestinian people have been divided for decades by two rival political factions: Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Their history of confrontation and reconciliation reflects the complexity and challenges of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as the internal dynamics and aspirations of the Palestinian society.
Hamas and the PLO have different origins, ideologies, and strategies. Hamas emerged in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Islamist movement that opposed the secular and nationalist approach of the PLO to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas rejected the PLO’s recognition of Israel and its participation in the peace process, and advocated for armed resistance and the establishment of an Islamic state in all of historic Palestine. Hamas gained popularity among Palestinians, especially in the Gaza Strip, for its social services, religious appeal, and militant actions against Israel, such as suicide bombings and rocket attacks.
The PLO, on the other hand, was founded in 1964 as an umbrella organization of various Palestinian groups that sought to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation and create an independent state. The PLO was dominated by Fatah, a secular and nationalist faction led by Yasser Arafat, who became the symbol of the Palestinian cause. The PLO engaged in guerrilla warfare and terrorism against Israel and its allies, but also pursued diplomatic and political channels to gain international recognition and support. In 1993, the PLO signed the Oslo Accords with Israel, which created the Palestinian Authority (PA) and granted it limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The Oslo Accords marked a turning point in the relationship between Hamas and the PLO. Hamas opposed the agreement and continued its attacks on Israel, often clashing with the PA security forces. The PA, under the leadership of Arafat and his successor Mahmoud Abbas, tried to contain and co-opt Hamas, while also facing criticism and pressure from Israel and the international community for failing to curb its violence and reform its institutions. The PA also faced challenges from other Palestinian factions, such as Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), which had different agendas and interests.
The tension between Hamas and the PLO reached a climax in 2006, when Hamas won a surprise victory in the Palestinian legislative elections, defeating Fatah. The international community, led by the United States and Israel, refused to recognize the Hamas-led government and imposed sanctions and a blockade on the Palestinian territories. The Hamas-Fatah rivalry turned into a violent conflict in 2007, when Hamas and Fatah fought a bloody civil war in Gaza, resulting in the split of the PA into two rival administrations: one led by Fatah in the West Bank and one led by Hamas in Gaza. The two sides have since failed to reconcile, despite several attempts and agreements.
The division of the Palestinian people has had devastating consequences for their political, economic, and social conditions. The West Bank and Gaza have become isolated and fragmented, with different legal systems, security forces, and public services. The Palestinian people have suffered from poverty, unemployment, corruption, human rights violations, and humanitarian crises. The Israeli-Palestinian peace process has stalled, as neither side has a credible and legitimate partner to negotiate with. The prospects for a two-state solution have diminished, as Israel has expanded its settlements and annexed parts of the West Bank, while Hamas has maintained its armed resistance and rejection of Israel’s existence.
Despite the deep rift between Hamas and the PLO, there have also been moments of cooperation and dialogue. In 2012, Hamas and the PLO signed a reconciliation deal in Cairo, which called for the formation of a unity government and the restructuring of the PLO to include Hamas and other factions. However, the deal was never implemented due to disagreements over power-sharing and security arrangements. In 2014, Hamas and Fatah agreed to form a consensus government and hold new elections, but the agreement soon collapsed amid renewed violence and mutual accusations of violating the terms. In 2017, Hamas and Fatah signed another reconciliation agreement in Cairo, which stipulated that Hamas would hand over the control of Gaza to the PA and dissolve its administrative committee. The agreement also envisioned the integration of Hamas into the PLO and the holding of general elections.
However, none of these agreements have been fully realized, as disputes over salaries, taxes, security, and border crossings persisted. The situation in Gaza worsened due to the Israeli blockade, the PA sanctions, and the humanitarian crisis. The West Bank also faced political and economic stagnation, as well as increased Israeli repression and annexation. The Palestinian people became disillusioned and frustrated with their leadership, and demanded reforms and accountability. In 2021, Hamas and Fatah announced that they would hold the first parliamentary and presidential elections in 15 years, following a meeting in Istanbul. The elections were scheduled for May and July 2021, respectively.
However, the elections were postponed indefinitely, citing Israel’s refusal to allow voting in East Jerusalem and the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War of 2023, which killed more than 24,000 people, mostly Israelis, and devastated Gaza. The war was triggered by a series of events, including the eviction of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem, the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli police, and the firing of rockets by Hamas and other militant groups into Israel. The war ended with a ceasefire brokered by Egypt, the United States, and Qatar, but without addressing the underlying issues of the conflict.
The war also exposed the weakness and irrelevance of the PLO, which was sidelined and marginalized by the international community and the Palestinian public. Hamas, on the other hand, emerged as the main representative and defender of the Palestinian cause, despite the heavy losses and destruction it suffered. Hamas will attempt to use its offensive, which has challenged Israel’s invincibility narrative, as evidence of the effectiveness of armed resistance compared to the PLO’s failure to achieve meaningful progress towards a Palestinian state through negotiations.
The future of the relationship between Hamas and the PLO is uncertain and depends on many factors, such as the internal dynamics of each faction, the regional and international context, and the aspirations and demands of the Palestinian people. The two sides may resume their reconciliation efforts, or they may resume their confrontation and competition. The two sides may also coexist in a state of uneasy and fragile cohabitation, without resolving their differences or addressing the needs and rights of their people. Whatever the outcome, the fate of the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom, justice, and dignity will be affected by the choices and actions of their leaders.
