National Unity: The Only Path to Confronting Existential Threats to the Palestinian People

The Palestinian people are facing the most critical stage in their history, as they endure a threefold war crime in the Gaza Strip, encompassing ethnic cleansing, collective punishment, and unprecedented genocide. Meanwhile, in the West Bank and Jerusalem, they are subjected to the most extensive campaigns of Judaization, annexation, and unchecked terrorist settlement expansion.

Inside historic Palestine, Palestinian citizens face oppression and racial discrimination, reinforced by an apartheid regime that deepens its racist laws. The ruling Zionist system is becoming increasingly fascist, disregarding all international laws and fundamental human rights. Under the shadow of this fascist Zionism and with the rise of figures like Donald Trump, Palestinians are confronting two grave threats: annexation and Judaization, along with ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank.

Worsening the situation is the persistent (and even deepening) Palestinian internal division, which has reached the point of irrational and unjustifiable internal conflict, even armed confrontations. The two main causes of this division—disputes over the political program and the struggle for power in the occupied territories—no longer hold. The illusion of a middle-ground solution with the Zionist movement has vanished, exposed as a mere tactical maneuver to implement strategic plans of annexation and Judaization. Similarly, the struggle over authority has lost its basis, as the authority in both Gaza and the West Bank now exists without real sovereignty, its remaining elements—like its people—under occupation. Is there any logical reason, then, for this ongoing internal conflict, let alone its escalation to armed confrontations like those seen in Jenin? Is the solution to deepen polarization, launch unjust media campaigns, and embrace the divisive slogan, “Whoever is not fully with me is against me,” while silencing voices calling for wisdom, rationality, and the restoration of lost national unity?

Have we not learned from the 1948 Nakba, when internal divisions and the absence of unified leadership led to the displacement of 70% of the Palestinian population, the destruction of more than 520 villages, and the abandonment of Palestine’s cause by many who betrayed its people’s rights? Why have reconciliation attempts—from Algiers to El Alamein, Moscow, and the Beijing Agreement—failed? These initiatives sought to shift the Palestinian landscape from internal strife to unity and collective action, yet the divisions persist.

There are several explanations for the continuation of the internal Palestinian split. Some cling to remnants of an authority whose powers Israel is systematically stripping away. Others remain attached to the Oslo Accords, which Israel has brazenly violated, dismantling their essence while entrenching settlements and military occupation even in areas designated under Palestinian civil and security control. Still, others fall prey to extreme factionalism, claiming absolute truth while harboring legitimate grievances, particularly those who have borne the brunt of Israeli genocidal crimes. Yet the gravest factor is the erosion of collective national consciousness and the rise of individualism and factionalism at the expense of shared national interests. This loss of unity, historically proven to be the most effective shield against enemies’ schemes, has left the Palestinian cause vulnerable.

History offers valuable lessons. In World War II, Nazi Germany occupied all of France, leading some leaders, like Marshal Pétain, to lose hope and collaborate with the occupiers. However, the French Resistance, uniting diverse political forces under the banner of “Free France,” ultimately liberated their nation. Similarly, Algeria’s revolution against French colonialism succeeded through the unity of its resistance movements. Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress dismantled apartheid in South Africa by uniting their forces against a regime that sought to divide them, even creating self-governing regions to cement its control.

“Divide and rule” has always been the preferred strategy of colonial powers, mastered by the British and adopted by oppressive regimes worldwide. The Zionist movement, and later the Israeli government, has excelled in exploiting this strategy. While moralizing may not be the most effective way to address internal Palestinian challenges, logical and rational arguments leave no doubt that the current state of division is a primary cause of the internal decline. If appeals to higher national interests and warnings of impending dangers are insufficient, perhaps the logical realization that all existing Palestinian political, organizational, and factional structures—and the interests tied to them—will be at risk of annihilation if Israel’s Western-backed plans succeed, will serve as a wake-up call. This shared understanding may inspire collective action to restore unity and halt the bleeding caused by internal strife.