PLO: ‘Every achievement of Hamas is a victory for the Palestinian people’

This is the PA’s dual-track strategy, presenting “Hamas-free” governance to the West while preparing to reintegrate Hamas once international support is secured.

By Itamar Marcus, Palestinian Media Watch

Hamas’ terror is considered a Palestinian national achievement and its successes belong to all Palestinians, proclaimed a member of the PLO’s governing body on Palestinian Authority television.

While Palestinian Media Watch has been exposing the PA’s ongoing open call for cooperation and/or unity with Hamas, this time the Palestinian official went even further:

Palestinian National Council member and political commentator Hamada Farana: “Whether there are political agreements, contradictions, or disagreements between this faction and another, [Hamas] ispart of the Palestinian people.

Every achievement of the Resistance [Hamas] is a victory for the Palestinian people on a cumulative, gradual, and multi-stage level.

Likewise, every loss [of the Resistance] is a burden for the Palestinian people and will delay or postpone the process of final victory.”

[Official PA TV, Capital of Capitals, Nov. 27, 2025]

Seeing Hamas’ victories, including October 7, as a Palestinian achievement is the reason why the PA continues broadcasting a clear message to its people that Hamas is an inseparable and indispensable partner of the Palestinian national movement.

Just a day after Farana’s statement, Mahmoud Abbas’ advisor declared the PA’s “hands are extended and our hearts are open to… Hamas:”

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash:

“Despite all our reservations regarding Hamas’ policies, positions, and actions, we still consider it and we will continue to consider it as part of the Palestinian people, and no one can deny it that.

Therefore, it has the right to engage in political activity within the framework of Palestinian law and under the umbrella of Palestinian law and as part of the Palestinian internal house.

However, Hamas cannot have its own weapons, nor can it have its own rule…Our hands are extended and our hearts are open to rapprochement with Hamas, and as I said before, Hamas is still part of the Palestinian people, despite all its shortcomings.”

[Mahmoud Al-Habbash, YouTube channel, Nov. 28, 2025]

Habbash is well aware that Hamas, because of its “success” on Oct. 7, remains the most popular Palestinian movement.

To counter Hamas’ popularity, the PA recently bragged about employing terror against Israel long before Hamas came into existence.

Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub recently called upon Egypt to help the PA “bridge gaps” with Hamas.

Of course, Mahmoud Abbas would prefer that Fatah rule alone, but it is not because Fatah differs ideologically, rather it is because Abbas does not want to share power.

Nevertheless, since Hamas is overwhelmingly popular among Palestinians and the PA cannot afford to alienate that base, the two movements operate as partners of convenience:

Abbas gains international recognition and funding, and unity with Hamas provides popular legitimacy among the population.

This is the PA’s dual-track strategy, presenting “Hamas-free” governance to the West while preparing to reintegrate Hamas once international support is secured.

It continues to make a mockery of President Trump’s 20-point plan—which required Hamas to play no role in Gaza’s governance—and exposes Mahmoud Abbas’ claim at the UN that “Hamas will have no role in governance” as a lie.

Thus, Palestinian officials or political voices are frequently affirming the same message: The PA and Hamas are partners in the same national project, differing only in structure and timing, not in goals.