Palestinians leaders in the West Bank and in Gaza paid close attention to the Israeli elections held Sept. 17, but not so much as an internal Israeli matter than as an event that will affect Palestinian lives. Hamas issued a series of responses before and after announcement of the results, signaling anticipation of possible impacts to the security, political and economic situations in Gaza, in particular the future of the Qatari-Egyptian and UN-mediated indirect understandings reached between Hamas and Israel since November 2018.
In November 2018, Hamas along with its allied factions — Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine — reached a series of humanitarian understandings with Israel brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations. Accordingly, Hamas would lower the temperature of the weekly protest marches along the Gaza-Israel border that began in March 2018, and Israel would ease restrictions on Gaza, including extending the fishing zone off the coast and reopening land crossings to goods and people. In addition, Qatar would be allowed to provide monthly stipends to assist poor families in Gaza, fund a power plant and other infrastructure projects in Gaza and support projects to provide 30,000 jobs for university graduates.
As for a potential change in government in Israel, Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor, “The Israeli elections had the competing Israeli political parties incite for aggression against Gaza, annexation of the West Bank and desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque. Hamas does not care that this or that party in Israel is the one that will triumph over the other.” For emphasis, he explained, “Netanyahu himself staged wars against us, and his rival, Blue and White Party chairman Gen. Benny Gantz, led a war against Gaza in 2014. For us, they are the same when it comes to aggression against Gaza.”
Qassem further stated, “The understandings were reached between the Palestinian factions and the occupation state via Egyptian mediation. They were not signed with the Likud Party. Regardless of who is going to lead Israel following the elections, Hamas will continue to use all means to break the siege on the Gaza Strip.”
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