Transformations in Palestinian Political Culture after October 7

Abstract The events of October 7, 2023, brought significant transformations in Palestinian political culture, prompting a reconfiguration of political meanings, legitimacy, and collective identity. This study explores how academic and intellectual elites interpret these changes. A qualitative interpretive design using conventional content analysis was employed. Data were collected between May and August 2025 through semi-structured interviews (n = 6), expert surveys (n = 12), and structured questionnaires (n = 20) with 38 purposively selected Palestinian scholars, analysts, and media experts. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke’s framework, identified five interconnected themes: the ethical resignification of resistance; declining institutional legitimacy and rising symbolic authority; humanitarian symbolism and globalized narratives of civilian suffering; digital platforms as new arenas of political participation; and fragmented cohesion with identity reconstruction. The findings suggest that October 7 functioned as a catalyst for cultural transformation, shifting political culture toward moral reasoning, symbolic politics, and digitally mediated participation.