The October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, and the Gaza Genocide that commenced that same day and continues more than two years later, mark a critical historical juncture for the Palestinian people. While the scale of destruction, loss of life, and displacement in Gaza has few contemporary parallels, the significance of this moment extends beyond the immediate catastrophe. For Palestinians, October 2023 did not simply usher in another episode in their protracted struggle for liberation; it exposed the cumulative consequences of decades of political fragmentation, institutional decay, and strategic paralysis within the Palestinian national movement itself.  

The October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, and the Gaza Genocide that commenced that same day and continues more than two years later, mark a critical historical juncture for the Palestinian people. While the scale of destruction, loss of life, and displacement in Gaza has few contemporary parallels, the significance of this moment extends beyond the immediate catastrophe. For Palestinians, October 2023 did not simply usher in another episode in their protracted struggle for liberation; it exposed the cumulative consequences of decades of political fragmentation, institutional decay, and strategic paralysis within the Palestinian national movement itself.  

This policy note examines how Gulf states can transition from traditional security dependence to a diversified, proactive strategy shaping the post-war regional and global order.