Hamas is an acronym that stands for “Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya”, or Islamic Resistance Movement, whereas the word Hamas in itself also means “zeal” or “enthusiasm” in Arabic and, according to some sources, additionally originates from another term with the meaning of “courage and bravery”. Hamas is by far the largest and perhaps also most influential militant Palestinian organization. It combines a religio-political ideology with nationalist-separatist elements. Hamas is mainly active in the Palestinian territories, and currently in control of the Gaza Strip. Its overall goal is the establishment of an Islamic state in Palestine.
Written in early 2011, the paper provides a brief overview of the Islamic Resistance Movement and a retrospect of what was known about Hamas back then. A helpful quick-guide giving some of the most important names and dates in the movement's history.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Group’s Origins
Aims and Ideology
Leadership
Structure
Strategies and Attack Record
The Group’s Impact
The Future of the Group
Objectives and Core Topics
This document provides a comprehensive overview of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), examining its historical origins, ideological foundations, and operational structures. The work aims to analyze how the organization evolved from a Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood into a major political and militant power in the Gaza Strip, while evaluating its impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the potential for its future role in regional peace processes.
- Historical evolution and foundational figures of the Hamas movement.
- Religio-political ideology and the long-term objectives regarding Palestine.
- Internal organizational structure and the differentiation between its political and militant branches.
- Evolution of tactical operations, ranging from suicide bombings to short-range rocket attacks.
- Political impact, electoral success, and the implications of its governance in the Gaza Strip.
Excerpt from the Book
The Group’s Origins
The Hamas movement is a Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. When activists associated with the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) became active in the Palestinian territories through the establishment of an extensive network of Islamic charities, setting up schools and clinics in the late 1970s, the foundation for the later formation of the Hamas resistance movement was laid.
Hamas itself was founded by several individuals in December of 1987, during the first Palestinian Intifada, an uprising against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip that followed the Six-Day War of 1967.
The most prominent among those founding members was Hamas’ longtime leader and spiritual figurehead Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a member of the MB who studied at the Muslim Brotherhood’s birthplace in Egypt, the al-Azhar university in Cairo. Yassin, who was arrested multiple times by Israeli authorities, founded the al-Mujama al-Islamiya Islamic Center, which functioned as a coordinating “umbrella organization for many religious organizations in Gaza.” Yassin was killed in an IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) helicopter missile strike on 22nd March 2004 when he left a mosque in Gaza City. Following Yassin’s killing, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, another founding member of Hamas, took over the leadership role until he himself was killed shortly afterwards, on 17th April 2004. Rantisi studied at the Alexandria University in Egypt where he earned a medical degree. He too made first contact with the MB during his time in Egypt and returned to Gaza in 1973 where he co-founded the Islamic Center together with Ahmed Yassin and others.
Among the other co-founding members were Salah Mustafa Shehadah, who established and commanded the military wing, the Izz al-Din al Qassam Brigades, until his assassination on 22nd July 2002 in Gaza City; Muhammad Shaah; Isa al-Nashar; Ibrahim al-Yazuri; Abd al-Fattah Dukhan; and Yahya al-Sinuwwar.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Defines Hamas as the Islamic Resistance Movement and provides a brief overview of its status, membership size, and international designation as a terrorist organization.
The Group’s Origins: Details the historical development of the movement as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and its official founding during the first Intifada.
Aims and Ideology: Explains the ideological framework of the group, focusing on its goal of liberating Palestine and establishing an Islamic state.
Leadership: Examines the impact of targeted killings on the organization's structure and the transition of power to figures like Khaled Meshal and Ismail Haniyeh.
Structure: Describes the loosely connected branches of the organization, specifically its political bureau, social institutions, and the military wing known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
Strategies and Attack Record: Provides an overview of the tactical shift from suicide bombings to short-range rocket fire against Israeli targets.
The Group’s Impact: Analyzes the movement's influence on the Palestinian territories, the stalling of the peace process, and its exploitation of local socio-economic hardships.
The Future of the Group: Discusses the movement's potential adaptation to political roles and the persistent challenges regarding its commitment to a long-term peace process.
Keywords
Hamas, Islamic Resistance Movement, Palestine, Gaza Strip, Muslim Brotherhood, Palestinian Intifada, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Terrorism, Middle East Conflict, Suicide Bombings, Political Islam, Khaled Meshal, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Jihad, Two-State Solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this work?
This work provides an analytical study of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), focusing on its history, ideological goals, structure, and operational methods within the context of the Palestinian territories.
What are the central thematic areas covered in the text?
The text covers the historical origins within the Muslim Brotherhood, the religious and political ideology, the organizational hierarchy, tactical evolution, and the group's sociopolitical impact on the region.
What is the primary research goal or question?
The primary goal is to assess the evolution of Hamas from a grassroots social movement into a significant political and militant actor, and to understand its influence on regional stability and future peace negotiations.
Which scientific approach is utilized?
The document employs a qualitative, analytical approach, synthesizing existing literature, official organizational charters, and international reports to provide a historical and strategic overview of the group.
What is examined in the main section of the document?
The main sections investigate the leadership transitions following Israeli targeted killings, the internal structure of the movement, and the tactical shift from suicide bombing campaigns to rocket warfare.
Which keywords characterize this analysis?
The work is characterized by terms such as Hamas, Palestine, Islamic Resistance Movement, Middle East Conflict, and Militant Organization.
How did the death of founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin affect the movement?
His death in 2004 significantly impacted the leadership structure, leading to a succession of other prominent figures and reinforcing the movement's reliance on collective leadership in the face of ongoing targeted attacks.
Is there any indication that Hamas might adopt a more pragmatic approach?
The text notes tentative signs of pragmatism, such as statements by leaders like Khaled Meshal suggesting a willingness to consider a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, though the group has not officially renounced its founding charter.
- Citation du texte
- Stefan Pauly (Auteur), 2011, HAMAS. The Islamic Resistance Movement and Key Issues in International Terrorism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/303986
