What happened
A potential Palestinian state could be formed, but without institutional reform, it may not bring freedom to its citizens. Instead, it could empower authoritarian rule and lead to future conflict. The political movement of Hamas could potentially form the government of the new state, which has a history of launching attacks against Israel.
In the past, when Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas took control of the territory and used it as a base for rocket attacks and other military actions against Israel. This led to a devastating response from Israel, which could happen again if a Palestinian state were to be formed and Hamas were to launch similar attacks.
The Palestinian Authority, which currently governs the West Bank, has also been criticized for its authoritarian tendencies and human rights abuses. The authority's president, Mahmoud Abbas, has been in office for over two decades, and the legislature has been dissolved.
A survey found that a majority of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank support Hamas or Fatah, which could indicate that a new Palestinian state might not be democratic or peaceful. Israel has warned that it would not tolerate a neighboring state that sponsors attacks against its civilians, and could respond with force if necessary.
The formation of a Palestinian state without institutional reform could lead to catastrophic consequences for Palestinians, including the destruction of their state and infrastructure. A successful Palestinian state would need to establish democratic institutions, protect individual rights, and renounce terrorism in order to achieve peace and freedom.
