The Core Issues Fueling a Complex Israeli-Hamas Conflict.

Global Trust News Insight:

Hamas, short for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement), is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamist organization with both a political and militant wing.

By: Enobong Ukpong

Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the southern Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis, Oct. 7, 2023.

Founded in 1987 during the First Intifada (Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation), it emerged as an offshoot of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Hamas’ stated goal is to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation and establish an Islamic state in historical Palestine (modern-day Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza).

Palestinians and Hamas militants transport Yarden Bibas to Gaza after kidnapping him from his home in Nir Oz, a kibbutz in Israel near the Gaza border, on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas militants stormed the border with Israel, killed over 1,200 Israelis, and took over 200 hostages.

Here are key points to understand about Hamas:

1. POLITICAL AND MILITANT WING

Political Wing: Hamas operates as a political entity, running social programs, schools, hospitals, and charities, particularly in the Gaza Strip. In 2006, it won a majority in the Palestinian legislative elections, gaining control over the Gaza Strip after a violent conflict with the rival Palestinian political group Fatah.

Military Wing: The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades is Hamas’ military wing. It has been involved in armed resistance against Israel, including rocket attacks, suicide bombings, and tunnel-based incursions.

Israelis evacuate a site struck by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Monday, Oct

2. GOVERNANCE IN GAZA

Since 2007, Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip, a densely populated area home to around 2 million people. Under Hamas’ rule, Gaza has faced repeated conflicts with Israel, leading to widespread destruction and economic hardship due to blockades imposed by Israel and Egypt.

3. GLOBAL DESIGNATION

Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, European Union, Israel, and Canada, primarily due to its use of violence and attacks targeting Israeli civilians. However, some countries and groups view Hamas as a legitimate resistance movement against Israeli occupation.

Palestinians inspect the rubble of the Yassin Mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, early Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.

4. ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

Hamas rejects any permanent peace agreement with Israel that recognizes its right to exist. Its charter initially called for Israel’s destruction but was revised in 2017 to distinguish between Jews and Zionists, softening its stance without fully recognizing Israel.

Multiple military conflicts, including wars in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021, have resulted from Hamas’ rocket attacks on Israel and retaliatory strikes by Israel. Civilians on both sides have suffered heavy casualties, with Gaza bearing the brunt of the destruction.

Palestinians walk by the buildings destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on al-Zahra, on the outskirts of Gaza City, Friday, Oct. 20, 2023

5. INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY

Hamas’ control of Gaza and its stance on Israel complicate international diplomacy. Efforts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (which governs the West Bank and is dominated by Fatah) are often hindered by Hamas’ exclusion from the process due to its designation as a terrorist group.

An Israeli soldier walks by a house destroyed in fighting with by Hamas militants in kibbutz Be’eri on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023. The kibbutz was overrun by Hamas militants from the nearby Gaza Strip Saturday when they killed and captured many Israelis

6. HUMANITARIAN IMPACT

Gaza’s population suffers from widespread poverty, unemployment, and lack of basic services due to the ongoing conflict, blockades, and internal governance challenges. Many humanitarian organizations have called for easing the blockade to allow more aid into Gaza, while critics blame Hamas for diverting resources for military purposes.

CONCLUSION

Hamas plays a complex and polarizing role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It wields significant power in Gaza but faces international isolation and opposition due to its militant tactics and rejection of a lasting peace agreement with Israel. Understanding Hamas requires recognizing the group’s dual nature as both a political actor and a militant organization engaged in an ongoing and deadly conflict.