Israeli raids and Fatah failures fuel support for Hamas in the West Bank
- Settler attacks and arrests of Hamas supporters have created fear and distrust within the ruling Fatah party in the West Bank.
- As a result, support for Hamas has been boosted, with some believing that only Hamas can provide defense and protection.
- The situation reflects growing tensions and political shifts in the region.
Khalil, a shy 21-year-old, was arrested last October for supporting Hamas. Israeli forces target Hamas in Gaza and also arrest many Palestinians in the West Bank. This creates fear and weakens Fatah, the ruling Palestinian Authority, making Hamas more popular. People distrust the Palestinian Authority for not protecting them and for detaining Hamas members. Hamas wins student elections at Birzeit, showing strong grassroots support. Polls show increased support for Hamas after the October attack. Settler attacks and lack of protection by the Palestinian Authority fuel anger towards them. Fatah realizes their mistakes in detaining Hamas members and worries about losing support to Hamas. Hamas's popularity is growing in the West Bank due to these issues.