Origins, motivation, and an insight into this movement in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas is an acronym of an Arabic phrase translating to: “Islamic resistance movement.” Despite this seemingly cut and dry title, the motivation of this political faction has proved one of the most divisive in recent times.
Operating predominantly from the Gaza strip, Hamas is a group with many labels – Terrorists, freedom fighters, militia and Government all describe the organisation in some way. But what is indisputable is that they have had one of the most commanding presences in the middle east for several decades.
Hamas came to power in Gaza in 2007 after a brief conflict with the previous leaders: Fatah, who oversaw the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) who are still in control of the west bank. However, Hamas was founded in 1987 by Ahmed Yassin, Palestinian politician and Iman (a religious and community leader) who created Hamas out of a charity he worked for involved with the Egypt-based Muslim brotherhood, an Islamic fundamentalist organization that operates globally. Yassin was later assassinated in 2004 by Israel via an IDF (Israel defense forces) helicopter firing.
Hamas was created as a direct reaction to the First Intifada, a six-year series of violent Palestinian protests against the occupying Israeli forces. It started when on the 9th of December 1987 after an IDF truck collided with a civilian’s car killing 4 Palestinian workers, three of which were from the Jabalia refugee camp. The Intifada caused the death of approximately 1,200 Palestinians and 160 Israelis, it concluded with the signing of the Oslo Accords between Israel and the PLO, and it divided up the west bank into three separate zones: Palestinian control, Israeli control, and mixed control.
Since Hamas’ takeover in 2007, Gaza has been put under a heavy blockade from Israel and several conflicts have broken out. This includes ‘Operation cast lead,’ also known as the Gaza war (2008 – 2009), when Israel began rocket fire in Gaza after tensions grew and ceasefires were broken by both sides. Another event being ‘Operation pillar of defense,’ an eight-day bombing campaign in 2012 by the IDF after more friction and attacks both from Hamas and Israel had been building up. Finally, ‘Operation protective edge’ in 2014, which was (at the time) the most damaging war for the region in decades, leading to over 2000 deaths, the bulk of which were Gazan Palestinians.
This now takes us to the present day, what has been named ‘Operation al-Aqsa flood’ has been by far the most detrimental internal conflict in the region since al Nakba in 1949. On the 9th of October 2023 1,200 Israeli citizens were killed and 240 were taken hostage by Hamas militants in some of the most brutal attacks in living memory. These attacks, amongst others, included a mass shooting in a music festival and 3,000 rockets launched into Israel. Since the conflict began it has taken over 15,000 lives in total and despite the 4-day ceasefire that had been agreed upon it has and will doubtlessly take many more.
A ceasefire is crucial for the population of both peoples, and the only way to truly crush the threat from Hamas is to remove its purpose, the apartheid that has been placed upon the Gaza strip by Israels far-right government for far too long. This prison sentence suffered by the Palestinian people leaves no room to breathe and gives a space for terrorist sects like Hamas to fester and grow strong. The people of Gaza have nothing - No money, no clean water, and they are quickly running out of food and medical supplies. To an orphan in the wreckage of what is left of his family home, Hamas are freedom fighters. To the innocent citizens of Israel whose families have been gunned down in the streets, they are terrorists. Both governments are tearing each other and themselves apart and the only solution is a long-term, diplomatic solution, and whether it’s one state or two, it is of the upmost importance that peace is achieved.
Written 22nd November 2023
By Thomas Trewick
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