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Source: https://jcpa.org/does-the-palestinian-authority-really-want-to-return-to-gaza/
Does the Palestinian Authority Really Want to Return to Gaza?
(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Khaled Abu Toameh - Although the PA has publicly indicated its desire to return to Gaza, Palestinian officials in Ramallah say this could not happen as long as Hamas' military capabilities have not been completely destroyed. PA President Mahmoud Abbas' top concern right now is ensuring that Hamas does not win on the battlefield or in the arena of public opinion. The growing popularity of Iran-backed Hamas among Palestinians following the Oct. 7 massacre of Israelis appears to be Abbas' primary concern. To prevent the return of Abbas loyalists, Hamas security personnel in civilian clothes are patrolling the streets of several Gaza communities. Last month, Hamas announced that its men detained several PA intelligence officers who had "infiltrated" Gaza while posing as humanitarian assistance workers. Despite the significant losses Hamas has sustained during the war, it still maintains many eyes and ears throughout Gaza. The writer, a veteran Israeli journalist, is a senior fellow at the Jerusalem Center.