"The relationship between the civilian population of Gaza and their governing authority Hamas is best understood as an en masse expression of Stockholm Syndrome."

Bingo!

The relationship between any civilian population and its government is best understood as an en masse expression of Stockholm syndrome.

An extremely laudable observation on the reality of the situation.

Completely agree Jed!

JKJ:
Interesting and very plausible analysis!
Rhrosty.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Dear Jed,

You wrote;

Look I get it, most of us in Australia have been brought up with a certain narrative which is reinforced by our media and to a certain extent our government especially the recent one.

But you sir hold “a bachelors degree in Philosophy and are currently completing “a masters degree in International Relations”. You have both the time and presumably the intellect to have a far more nuanced view of the conflict in Gaza but your article shows a grave disinclination to engage it.

Here is a different narrative from your initial paragraph;

“‘Stockholm Syndrome’ is a condition by which the kidnapped, imprisoned or abused develop a positive emotional attachment to their hostage taker. The trauma of captivity and subjugation induces misdirected feelings of sympathy and self-identification with the very actions and agents that are imposing the oppression and captivity - a subconscious self-protection of the ego. The relationship between the civilian population of the West Bank and their governing authority the IDF is best understood as an en masse expression of Stockholm Syndrome.”

Here are the facts, military action by Gazans expelled the occupiers and their illegal settlements from their territory while Fatah and the West Bank Palestinians have seen the occupation and settlements grow virtually unabated.

Why shouldn't we view the compliant Fatah government in similar terms to the Vichy in France, or the Judenrat in the Warsaw Ghetto. While the latter oversaw the rounding up and loss of Jews Fatah oversees a land and sovereignty loss as the occupier's settlements grow unabated.

In the latest conflict the Fatah went with IDF troops to round up Hamas members in the West Bank. They stood by while Hamas people were shot, kidnapped and brutalised. They did nothing while hundreds of homes, businesses and charities were trashed and demolished. It was only when Palestinians in the West Bank came out and protested their actions did they start condemning the actions of the IDF.

“Many involved in the recent West Bank protests say they considered the Palestinian Authority and its president Mahmoud Abbas collaborators.”
http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/palestinian-authoritys-popularity-a-casualty-of-gazas-war#page2#ixzz3AihJx3Pb 

Dear SR:

“…military action by Gazans expelled the occupiers and their illegal settlements from their territory while Fatah and the West Bank Palestinians have seen the occupation and settlements grow virtually unabated”

We've already addressed your unfounded theory claiming that the Gaza violence was the cause of IDF exit from there on a different thread. We both know the violence was part of the second intifada that blossomed in the west bank as much as, if not more than, Gaza, yet didn't lead to Israeli evacuation from there. You previously chose to ignore this inconvenient contradiction, would you care to explain why you still support this flawed theory?

“Why shouldn't we view the compliant Fatah government in similar terms to the Vichy in France…”

Would the Vichy government have dared seeking membership in an international organisation (such as the UN) against the wishes of Germany? Would they have risked the daily depiction of the Germans as evil sub-humans who should be killed at any opportunity on national radio/tv? How does this bear any resemblance to the “compliant Fatah government” in the West Bank? Where is the parallel between the complete destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto and the utter annihilation of its population, and the settlements? When was the last time settlers completely destroyed a Palestinian town and wiped out all its inhabitants?

“Many involved in the recent West Bank protests say they considered the Palestinian Authority and its president Mahmoud Abbas collaborators”

Are you aware of the protests against Hamas in Gaza (http://www.worldtribune.com/2014/07/31/sources-hamas-quickly-puts-dissent-gaza-kills-palestinian-protesters/ and http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=523726)? Most of those protestors are obviously deceased now thanks to their local friendly gang of Hamas thugs. Or how about the Israeli Arab Christians protesting against Hamas (http://chersonandmolschky.com/2014/07/30/israeli-arab-christians-protest-hamas/)? They, luckily, are still alive thanks to their geographical location on the right side of the border.
Hamas supporters have always considered Fatah the enemy, I guess that’s why they assassinated most of them in Gaza and chased the rest away. Is it any surprise that they are protesting against Fatah now, given that they don't have the capability (yet) to slaughter them in the West Bank?