Hamas and governance in Gaza

One of the most significant changes in Gaza over the past decade is without a doubt Hamas’s rise to power and the group’s consolidation of political, social, and military control of the Strip. Although as of late 2017 Hamas’s governance project remains in a precarious position, its authority over the Gaza Strip remains fundamentally unchallenged. Any long term policy proposal with respect to Gaza must take this reality into account and weigh the complex balance of power between Hamas and the other political factions and civilian forces in the Strip as well as in the Palestinian political sphere as a whole. Similarly, internal dynamics, including with respect to the balance between the movement’s military and political wings, must be analyzed and understood when assessing Hamas’s present and future role in Gaza.