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Why the Palestinian Authority Should Not Return to Gaza

(Gatestone Institute) Bassam Tawil - Those who believe the Palestinian Authority should replace Hamas in Gaza are either gullible, badly uninformed, or living in delusions. The PA can pay salaries to civil servants, but it cannot - and will never - take on Hamas directly. Sending PA security personnel to Gaza while Hamas terrorists are still on the streets would be tantamount to suicide. During the 2007 Hamas coup in Gaza, Hamas terrorists killed a large number of PA security officers. Hamas has stated that it will not allow PA security forces to re-enter Gaza. In April, Hamas announced that its men had foiled an attempt by PA intelligence officers to enter Gaza under cover of being aid workers. Hamas arrested 10 PA General Intelligence Service officers, while some were able to flee. Hamas has also rejected the idea of sending international or Arab forces to Gaza. "Any force that attempts to enter Gaza will be handled with resistance and treated as an occupying force," Hamas recently declared. Between 2005 and 2007, PA President Mahmoud Abbas ruled Gaza, yet he took no action to stop terrorist groups from firing rockets at Israel or from amassing a sizable arsenal. Despite having thousands of security officers in the West Bank, Abbas has done little to prevent armed groups from forming in several cities and villages that fall under his jurisdiction. Abbas, fearful of being called a traitor, is reluctant to take action against the terrorists. Gaza needs moderate and pragmatic leaders who will embark on a process of deradicalizing and reeducating Gazans to lead peaceful, prosperous and constructive lives and who will finally prepare their people for peace in the region. At the moment, unfortunately, among the Palestinians, no such leaders exist.
2024-05-19 00:00:00
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