Hamas in perspective: Origins and evolution

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing more than 1,400 people and taking more than two hundred hostages. Israel has declared war on group in response, penetrating the Gaza Strip with IDF forces in an ongoing ground operation, and has indicated that its army will continue a long campaign until Hamas is completely eliminated. With this escalation in the conflict, Hamas has succeeded in putting the spotlight on its cause and its organization, which begs the question: What is Hamas and where does it come from? What are its goals? How is it organized and with what support?

Hamas is a militant Islamist movement and one of the two main political parties in the Palestinian territories, and is considered a terrorist group by a large part of the international community. The group has politically controlled since 2006 the Gaza Strip, a territory of 365 km² that is home to more than two million Palestinians.

Origins

Hamas makes reference letter the acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya) and was founded by Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian sheikh who after being an activist in the local branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt established Hamas as the political arm of the Brotherhood in Gaza in December 1987. This follows the outbreak of the first intifada, the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. The group presents itself under a nationalist, Islamist and jihadist identity. At the time, Hamas' purpose was to counter the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), another organization whose commitment to violently resist Israel threatened to take Palestinian support away from the Brotherhood.

In 1988, Hamas published its charter, advocating the destruction of Israel and advocating the establishment of an Islamic society in historic Palestine. This purpose is part of the strong criticism Yassin expressed of the strategy of civil service examination to Israel of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), led for years by Yasser Arafat. The PLO leader's ideas were linked to socialism and pan-Arabism, ideological currents very popular in the 1960s and 1970s in the Middle East. However, these positions were criticized by Yassin, who perceived them as 'Western' influences. For Yassin, in addition to the struggle against Israel, it was also crucial to preserve 'sharia' and Islamic law as the foundation of an eventual Palestinian state. Moreover, the PLO was highly discredited because it was seen as corrupt and detached from the real problems of the Palestinians, as its leadership was comfortably seated in Tunisia, while the Palestinians were suffering directly from the effects of the intifada.

During the first intifada Hamas played a growing but moderate role, as the most recognizable figure within the Palestinian resistance was Yasser Arafat. However, from the 1990s onwards, its role in Palestinian politics increased considerably thanks to two factors core topic: the training of Hamas' armed wing called the Ezzeldin al-Qassam Brigade and its firm position against any peace agreement .

Hamas thus condemned the Oslo Accords, the historic pact signed by PLO leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1993. These agreements established limited self-rule for parts of the West Bank and Gaza under a newly created entity called the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). In addition to rejecting the agreements, Hamas condemned the mutual recognition between the PLO and Israel, which Arafat and Rabin officially accepted in letters sent days before Oslo. Consequently, Hamas refused to be part of the newly created PNA and started a campaign of suicide bombings towards Israel that caused it to be labeled as group terrorist by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom or Canada. At the same time, Hamas' name began to resonate more and more in the Middle East region and its influence among the Palestinian population increased. This increase in support for Hamas among Palestinians can be attributed to its steadfast civil service examination towards Israel and the criticism of corruption and ineffectiveness directed towards the PNA and the main party, Fatah.

With the beginning of the second intifada at the end of 2000, the role of Hamas became more prominent, almost at the same level as that of Fatah, despite the fact that the latter occupied governmental positions at that time. On the other hand, despite having suffered major defeats on the ground against Israel and having lost two of its most important leaders - Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz ar-Rantisi - killed in special military operations carried out by the Tsahal, the political influence of Hamas soared during this intifada. On the other hand, Hamas's armed wing was strengthened in these years, as Israel accuses, due to the partnership of states such as Iran or Qatar, as well as armed groups hostile to Israel, such as Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. These external actors have repeatedly expressed their support for Hamas operations, although they have gone so far as to deny providing direct military financial aid .

Hamas' political relevance peaked in 2006 when it won the legislative elections in Gaza, winning over other long-established parties such as Fatah or the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The perception of Hamas as a threat by Fatah generated growing tensions between the two factions, culminating in an open confrontation for power in 2007. Although Fatah maintained its dominance in the West Bank, Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip. This division left Palestinian politics and its two territories in a state of fracture and paralysis for years. This status also raised additional concerns for Israel, since, unlike Fatah - which believes in a two-state solution - Hamas believes that Israel must disappear and that only one state can prevail: that of Palestine.

Since then, Israel began to isolate the Gaza Strip, a blockade that has caused a humanitarian crisis among the more than two million inhabitants of the area.

In the period from 2008 to 2021, Israel lived in a state of permanent tension with Hamas. The constant drip of rockets from the terrorist group on Israeli territory raised tensions on at least four occasions, resulting in armed conflicts, in some of which Israel has even temporarily penetrated Gaza with ground forces to "mow the grass", using the IDF's terminology . The first war unleashed by Hamas, in 2008, resulted in the Israeli military offensive 'Cast Lead', which lasted about a month. The second occurred in 2012, culminating in the recognition of Palestine as a 'non-member' observer state by the UN General Assembly. The third armed flare-up, in 2014, was initiated due to attacks from Gaza, culminating in an Israeli ground offensive and a temporary ceasefire in August. Finally, the fourth war, in 2021, began with rocket fire from Gaza and Israeli air strikes, preceded by riots in East Jerusalem.

The maintenance of such intense political and military activity has required Hamas to create a complex but flexible structure, capable of adapting to the permanent Israeli military pressure, and stable sources with which to finance its activity. Both aspects are discussed below.

Leadership

Hamas has a number of leadership bodies that perform various political, military and social functions. Overall policy is set by a general consultative body, often called a politburo, which operates in exile from Qatar. Local committees manage grassroots issues in Gaza and the West Bank.

On the one hand, Ismail Haniya is the current political head of the organization. His figure stands out for his close relationship with Yassin: he was appointed head of his office and served as his private secretary. His position within Hamas was strengthened during the second intifada, due to his relationship with the founder of Hamas and also because of the assassinations of a large part of the group leadership by Israeli security forces. In December 2005, Haniya was elected to head the Hamas list, which won the committee Palestinian Legislative elections the following month. As of 2020, Haniya operates as the Islamist Movement's top manager leader from Qatar, the country where Hamas leaders settled after leaving Syria in resistance to Al Assad's crackdown on the popular uprising there, which involved Palestinian refugees. In addition, some senior Hamas figures also operate from group offices in Turkey.

As for day-to-day affairs in Gaza, these are overseen by Yahya Sinwar, who previously founded and led the military wing of Hamas and served twenty-two years in an Israeli prison for masterminding the kidnapping and murder of two Israeli soldiers. He was among more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released in 2011 in exchange for an Israeli soldier held by Hamas. However, as of June 2021, the de facto prime minister of Gaza is Issam al-Da'alis.

As for the other branches of the organization, Marwan Issa and Mohammed Deif command Hamas' military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Both are priority targets for the special unit of Shin Beth and Mossad agents to locate and eliminate those responsible for the October 7 attack. On the other hand, Saleh al-Arouri, eliminated by Israel on January 2, 2024, headed the Lebanese branch of Hamas, although he also assumed the leadership of group in the West Bank following internal elections that ended in 2021. Khaled Meshaal was elected to head the diaspora office and Salameh Katawi is the manager to manage the affairs of imprisoned Hamas members.

Financing and allies

Iran is currently one of Hamas' biggest benefactors, providing funds, weapons and training. Although Iran and Hamas briefly parted ways after backing opposing sides in the Syrian civil war, Iran currently provides about $100 million a year to Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.

Turkey has been another staunch supporter of Hamas (and critic of Israel) following President Erdogan's rise to power in 2002. Although Ankara insists that it only supports Hamas politically, it has been accused of funding Hamas terrorism, including through financial aid diverted from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency.

On the other hand, Hamas' issue two, Saleh al-Arouri, recently met with the leader of Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. This meeting took place in October while Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions were exchanging daily fire with the Israeli army across the Lebanon-Israel border. The three terrorist groups are part of the 'axis of resistance' - Iranian-backed Palestinian, Lebanese and Syrian armed groups opposed to Israel. Hezbollah has statement that "it was agreed to continue coordination, and to follow developments on a daily and permanent basis." In addition, they discussed "what the Axis of Resistance parties should do in this delicate phase to achieve a real victory for the Resistance in Gaza and Palestine, as well as to stop the treacherous and brutal aggression against our oppressed people." Even though Hezbollah is a Shiite party-militia and Hamas is a Sunni organization, (two branches of Islam generally at odds with each other) their goal common goal of ending the state of Israel prevails.

At the same time, a large issue of countries or regional groups such as the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Paraguay, the Organization of American States and Egypt maintain Hamas on their list of terrorist organizations because of its use of violence against civilians, including suicide bombings and rocket attacks. Other countries, such as Turkey, apply this label only to its military wing.

Despite international controversy and designations as a terrorist organization, Hamas continues to play an influential role in the region. A June 2023 survey June 2023 survey conducted by the Palestinian Center for Polling and Policy research (PCPSR) showed that more than half of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank would vote for Hamas's Haniya over PNA President Mahmoud Abbas in a presidential election, while only one-third of Palestinians would choose Abbas.

Currently, the ground invasion in Gaza continues, and Israel warns that it will not cease until it finishes with Hamas in the Strip, both militarily and politically. Some voices warn that this is not feasible, since being a popular organization, with roots among the Palestinian population, new members would regenerate Hamas and even if Israel were to finish off its leaders, the organization would remain standing.

However, the Israeli authorities have not pronounced themselves on how Gaza would be administered after the war or who would fill the power vacuum if they were to fulfill their goal. The first possible scenario is that Israel would return to military control of the Gaza Strip, although this does not seem to be the most viable option, since it would face criticism from the international community, both from its Western allies and from the Arab countries with which it has signed peace agreements or plans to do so. Moreover, it is also warned that the cost of eliminating Hamas "will be high for Israel because the population of Gaza, however anti-Hamas it may be, will not forgive the destruction it is causing".

On the other hand, Israel could support the creation of a new government, led by Gaza's own Palestinians, with the participation of local leaders and the support of the United States, Egypt and perhaps Saudi Arabia. It could also include Fatah leaders, although this would be complicated by the unpopularity of the PNA, for the reasons outlined above. Therefore, for the Palestinians in Gaza to accept this imposition, it might be necessary for the PNA to present itself as a strong and stable option with, for example, the ambition to push Israel to accept the two-state solution.

The challenge will continue

The evolution of Hamas from its founding by Ahmed Yassin to become a prominent political and military actor in contemporary Palestine reflects a complex combination of factors. Its origin during the first intifada, the rejection of the Oslo Accords and its growing role during the second intifada consolidated its presence. The victory in the 2006 elections and the subsequent split with Fatah left Gaza under the total control of Hamas, generating a persistent political fracture in the Palestinian territories. Alliances and financial backing from countries such as Iran and Turkey, as well as other groups such as Hezbollah, have influenced its trajectory. At the same time, Hamas has been gaining the support of the Palestinians, who see Al-Fatah and the PNA as a weak, corrupt and ineffective alternative to confront the Israeli state and defend the interests of the Palestinian people.

Through its growing influence and determination to fight Israel, Hamas poses significant challenges and will continue to put stability in the Middle East at stake despite how decimated group may be after Israel's current offensive.