Hamas seeks to spread chaos and terror from Gaza to the West Bank, aiming to create protests against the Palestinian Authority. This comes as Hamas faces setbacks in Gaza but continues to control most of the territory. The spark for this plan was the Palestinian Authority's crackdown on terror groups in Jenin, particularly Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) gunmen. PIJ has grown in power in the West Bank due to the influx of illegal weapons. Israel has had to launch major operations in the northern West Bank to combat rising terror. Hamas's statement could lead to civil conflict in the Palestinian Authority and is part of its long-term plan to take over the West Bank.