From this author

 Politics
As the Israeli regime continues its genocidal campaign against Palestinians in Gaza, many have begun to weigh in on the future of Hamas and of Palestinian leadership more broadly once the bombardment ends. One of the dominant proposals circulating amongst analysts, Palestinian and otherwise, is the revival of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), with Hamas as a member party.
In light of the comprehensive war on the Gaza Strip, the occupation is escalating its tormenting measures against the Palestinians in the West Bank, where it launched large-scale military operations that led to the death of dozens of Palestinians, and gave free rein to the settlers, who have become clearly seeking to impose a new fait accompli, as since the beginning of the war they have displaced about 1,000 people.
The vacancy of the president’s office or the formation of a new legislative council would not have a significant impact on the status quo. This is because the Zionist settler-colonial project is larger than the spaces where these two institutions are relevant, namely, the West Bank and Gaza.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Nov 21, 2022
The escalation of popular confrontation with the Israeli regime and the outbreak of a new Palestinian intifada would increase the likelihood of the revival and reform of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), as the public would pressure the political factions to accomplish this task.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Nov 21, 2022
Efforts to restore the PLO would receive popular support, provided that Fatah does not insist on following the same political approach of demanding statehood within the 1967 borders, a territory that is continually shrinking due to Israeli annexation, expansion, and de-Palestinization.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Nov 21, 2022
The collapse of the PA assumes that all internal factors driving popular action against its policies would continue. It further assumes that the popular movement would call for the PA’s dismantlement due to its cumulative failures to address the many issues affecting the daily lives of Palestinians.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Nov 21, 2022
The status quo is nothing but a transitional stage hindering the necessary transformations to the PA, the PLO, and Palestinians at large. However, the longer this scenario persists, the more probable its enabling factors become catalysts for the other scenarios.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Nov 21, 2022
 Politics
When Ahmad Al-Shuqairi founded the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964, he envisioned an entity that represented all Palestinians. However, he could not realize this vision because Fatah expressed its lack of confidence in him and his PLO policy in a statement to the December 9, 1967, meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Sep 14, 2022
 Politics
With the end of the Second Palestinian Intifada, the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, expressed its willingness to participate in the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) municipal and legislative elections, ultimately winning many electoral contests. Hamas viewed its participation in official electoral politics as a way of strengthening the Palestinian resistance movement, as well as a means of bolstering the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the face of rising external pressures.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Sep 30, 2021
Since the Unity Intifada in May 2021, Hamas has achieved an unprecedented level of popularity and support among the Palestinian people for its resistance in the face of the Israeli regime’s attacks on Palestinians in East Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Media mention

As new political document is released, questions arise over Hamas' next moves and new strategy.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· May 2, 2017
In recent weeks, armed with a leaked document, many have speculated that the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, will adopt a new Charter. However, the leaked document is nothing but a new “platform” being floated among the movement members, to be officially announced on May 1 as the “General Principles and Policies Platform.” The platform will not replace its original 1988 Charter, according to Ismail Radwan, a senior leader in the movement.
Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Apr 28, 2017

Cash-strapped Hamas faces local elections & internal leadership changes

Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Aug 17, 2016
Quote

Despite virtual daily Israeli ceasefire violations, unending siege and an “intifada of knives” taking place in the occupied West Bank and Israel, Hamas has once again proven to be practical and willing in negotiations with Israel, while the Israeli government threatens another devastating assault on Gaza’s beleaguered population.

Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Feb 24, 2016

While Israel's efforts to link Palestinian resistance to its military occupation to global terrorism are not new, it has expanded its propaganda to address Arab as well as Western audiences.

Al-Shabaka Belal Shobaki
Belal Shobaki· Feb 24, 2016
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