Hamas is watching from a distance what is happening in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem - sights that are supposed to arouse satisfaction among the organization's members in Gaza.
Now this is "finally" happening, but Hamas is far from entering euphoria.
Instead of "celebrating the success of the attacks," the organization is forced to take stock of how the other Palestinian factions may have stolen the "glory" from them.
Hamas finds itself lagging behind, while Islamic Jihad and Fatah's armed groups are at the center of attention of the current wave of terrorism. A situation in which Hamas is not perceived by the Palestinian public as the sole leader of the terrorist attacks against Israel.
Hamas has become accustomed to accepting the role of the main player in motivating terrorist attacks.
Recent developments undermine this, at least in relation to northern Samaria.
The military arms of jihad and Fatah take the lead from him. Hamas, and especially Yahya Sinwar, does not like to be left with crumbs.
The latest wave of terrorism.
IDF forces throughout Tel Aviv (archive), Photo: Reuters
There are also tensions between the two organizations, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, in the Gaza Strip.
On the outside, there are attempts, on the part of Hamas in particular, to convey that the two factions are working in full cooperation and holding a unified position.
But the large number of meetings in the Gaza Strip and abroad between Islamic Jihad members and their Hamas counterparts may imply that these are not talks that only deal with coordinating positions. Hamas, as the ruling party in the Gaza Strip, has broader considerations than the jihadist organization, which is exempt from civilian responsibility for more than two million residents of the Gaza Strip.
The events in Jenin strengthen the self-confidence of Islamic Jihad, and even in the Gaza Strip its people feel stronger than before to challenge Hamas.
This is also due to the backing they receive from their leader Ziad Nahala who lives abroad.
Hamas is more threatened at home today than ever before.
The fact that the challenge comes from the second largest organization in the Strip is causing its people unrest.
Hamas is unhappy that jihad and Fatah are being given credit in the North Bank. If the trend continues, Hamas could lose patience and join Gaza in the conflict, in order to maintain its status and show that its resistance is covered and alive.
In this situation, Hamas may lose motivation to prevent the jihad in the Gaza Strip from firing on Israel.
Even if Hamas does not want Gaza to enter a confrontation at this stage, it may find itself pushed into a corner and may allow jihad to operate, both to let it release steam and to prevent further erosion of its own status.
This may not be the option Hamas prefers now, but it does exist.
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