Demonstrationen in Gaza: Ein Erfolg für die Hamas

Wie sind die jüngsten Demonstrationen an der Grenze des Gaza-Streifens einzuschätzen? Avi Issacharof schreibt in der Times of Israel:

From Hamas’s point of view, indeed, it succeeded Friday where Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority has failed. Hamas, which flew the flag of armed resistance, of terrorism, pulled off one of the biggest public protest events seen in the territories since the start of the Second Intifada 18 years ago, and its leaders, unlikely those of the PA, stood together with the demonstrators, displaying a different kind of leadership from that of the Fatah chiefs of the West Bank.

Hamas even managed to restore the Palestinian issue to the international agenda, which had for a long time become indifferent to what unfolds in Gaza and the West Bank.

The cost was 16 killed and hundreds injured, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. Those numbers are sure to rise over the coming weeks in the run-up to May 15. So, too, however, are the numbers participating in the protests.

Gazans who spoke to the various Hamas leaders at the border on Friday came away with the clear impression that the rulers of the Strip intend to devote still more resources to these protests over the coming weeks leading up to Nakba Day.

Despite the violence at the fence, and at least one case of gunfire directed at Israeli troops, these Gazans said, Hamas security forces made an effort to prevent gunmen from getting to the border on Friday. It is by no means certain that such efforts will be maintained in a month and a half’s time. The May 15 campaign, in other words, is likely to be both much bigger and much more violent.

The “success” of Friday’s demonstrations is also likely to spread to other areas — most notably to the West Bank in the run-up to Nakba Day. With the Americans set to open their embassy in Jerusalem, and Gazans holding a still bigger “March of Return,” there will be considerable motivation for protests in the West Bank.