The release of the BBC reporter Alan Johnston on Wednesday by Hamas’ security apparatus, the “Executive Force,” is certainly a major achievement for the Islamic movement and its deposed government. Hamas is now sending a message to the Palestinians and mainly in the West Bank, and even more so to the international community, that it is not just an extremist movement, but rather a movement that also knows how to be pragmatic and resolve crises.
Several hours after taking over the Gaza Strip, Hamas announced that Johnston’s release was of the utmost importance. Now, after releasing a man held captive by “the Army of Islam” for 114 days, the movement expects to reap rewards. Top Hamas members hinted to foreign governments: “Now, after we lifted the siege on Johnston, we hope to see the international siege on the Hamas government lifted as well.”
While euphoria prevails in the Gaza Strip and among Hamas members in the wake of the release, the opposite is true of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Ever since Johnston was abducted, Hamas has been claiming that the abductors were supported by official elements within the Palestinian security agencies. Hamas says that the release of the BBC man raises a major question: Did Abbas’ people postpone the release in order to deepen the anarchy in the Gaza Strip and tarnish Hamas’ image? Did they aim to prove to all that Hamas’ election promises to introduce reforms and put an end to the anarchy were empty?
Hamas stresses that a day after the takeover of Gaza and disappearance of the Palestinian Authority and its administrative and security outfits, and the Fatah’s “gangs”, the anarchy has disappeared from Gaza’s streets. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh was quick to hurl an implied insult at Abbas: “We hope that the order, security, and end to anarchy would also reach the West Bank.” Abbas will no doubt face the following question from world leaders: How did the tens of thousands of security forces under his command fail where Hamas’ security force succeeded? But will this bring about a change in Hamas’ image worldwide? This is highly doubtful. Still, there is no denying that Hamas has scored major victories vis-à-vis Abbas when it comes to the battle for prestige and public opinion in the Palestinian Authority and worldwide.
Even the payment of salaries by Salam Fayyad’s government Wednesday to tens of thousands of civil and security servants (except those employed by the Hamas government), for the first time in a year and a half won’t be able to steal the limelight from Hamas’ success.
Speaking at a press conference, Haniyeh said he hopes that the affair of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will also draw to a happy end just like the Johnston affair. In fact, this is the message Hamas is interested in conveying to Israel and the world at this juncture — the message that when it comes to the Palestinians, Hamas is the address for doing business.
Just as Hamas was the first to implement the truce agreement with Israel reached by Palestinian factions in March 2005, Hamas seeks to say at this time: “We were the first to put an end to anarchy. Give us a try.”
