11: Power Vacuum in Gaza: Clans Challenge Weakening Hamas Authority. Jonathan Schanzer (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) analyzes the reports of violence and gunplay occurring in Gaza, even duri

Power Vacuum in Gaza: Clans Challenge Weakening Hamas Authority. Jonathan Schanzer (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) analyzes the reports of violence and gunplay occurring in Gaza, even during the ceasefire. Clan, family, and tribe structures have always been significant features in the governance of Palestinian territories, including Gaza and the West Bank. As Hamas weakens, these tribes are attempting to exert their authority and project power, leading to clashes on the streets. This is simply a grab for power, opposed by Hamas, which attempts to maintain control through violence and brutality. This process could result in different entities and actors controlling various pockets of the Gaza Strip, leading to a situation of fragmented territories or "bantustans." Retry