Introduction
Hamas is one of the most influential and controversial political and militant movements in the Middle East. Formed during the First Intifada in 1987, it has played a central role in Palestinian society and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While Hamas presents itself as a resistance movement against Israeli occupation, it is designated a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and several other countries due to its attacks against civilians and military targets. To understand Hamas, one must explore its ideological roots, organizational structure, political evolution, and impact on regional and global geopolitics.
Origins and Formation
Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah, or the Islamic Resistance Movement. It was founded in December 1987, during the early days of the First Intifada — a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Its founders were members of the Gaza wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Sunni Islamist organization that had been active in the Palestinian territories since the 1940s.
Initially, the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine focused on religious education, charity, and social services rather than political or military activity. However, the growing frustration among Palestinians under occupation, and the perception that secular nationalist movements like the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) were ineffective, led to the creation of a more militant branch.
Hamas’s founding charter, released in 1988, proclaimed its goals as the liberation of Palestine through jihad and the establishment of an Islamic state in the historical land of Palestine, which includes present-day Israel. The charter explicitly rejected the existence of the State of Israel and framed the conflict in religious terms, citing Islamic texts and history.
Ideology and Objectives
Hamas’s ideology blends Palestinian nationalism with Islamic fundamentalism. Unlike the secular PLO, Hamas frames the Palestinian struggle as both a national liberation movement and a religious duty. The original 1988 charter portrayed the conflict as a battle between Islam and Judaism, a stance that has been widely criticized for antisemitic language and conspiratorial tone.
The key ideological tenets of Hamas include:
- Non-recognition of Israel: Hamas does not accept the legitimacy of the State of Israel. It views all of historic Palestine as Islamic land (waqf), which cannot be surrendered.
- Armed struggle (jihad): Hamas believes that violent resistance is a legitimate and necessary means to achieve liberation.
- Islamic governance: Hamas seeks to establish an Islamic state in Palestine governed by Sharia law.
- Social and political reform: Inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas also advocates for social services, religious piety, and Islamic values within Palestinian society.
However, Hamas’s position has evolved over time. In 2017, Hamas released a new political document that distanced itself from the more inflammatory aspects of its original charter. While it still rejected Israel’s legitimacy, the new document acknowledged the possibility of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders (i.e., the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem), without formally recognizing Israel. It also tried to frame the group’s struggle as political rather than religious.
Political Participation and Governance
For much of the 1990s, Hamas remained outside the formal political structures created by the Oslo Accords, which it opposed as a betrayal of Palestinian rights. During this period, it built its reputation through social services, religious activities, and attacks against Israel, especially through suicide bombings in the mid-1990s and early 2000s.
In 2006, Hamas surprised the international community by winning the majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections, defeating the ruling Fatah party. The elections were deemed fair by observers, and Hamas’s victory reflected widespread frustration with Fatah’s corruption, inefficiency, and the perceived failure of the peace process.
After the elections, Hamas formed a government, but tensions with Fatah soon erupted into violent conflict. In 2007, following a brief and bloody civil war, Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip, while Fatah retained control of the West Bank. Since then, the Palestinian territories have been effectively split into two rival administrations — Hamas in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority (led by Fatah) in the West Bank.
Hamas’s rule in Gaza has been marked by internal authoritarianism, with reports of political repression, human rights abuses, and suppression of dissent. However, it also continues to operate hospitals, schools, and charitable organizations, often filling a void left by the international community or the Palestinian Authority.
Military Wing and Armed Conflict
Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, is a central component of its operations. Named after a Syrian preacher and anti-colonial fighter, the brigades conduct military activities ranging from guerrilla operations to rocket attacks, tunnel warfare, and, in some cases, coordinated assaults against Israeli targets.
Hamas has engaged in multiple conflicts with Israel, most notably:
- Operation Cast Lead (2008–09)
- Operation Pillar of Defense (2012)
- Operation Protective Edge (2014)
- Operation Guardian of the Walls (2021)
- October 7, 2023 Attack
Each of these escalations was followed by devastating Israeli bombardments of Gaza, with high civilian casualties and widespread destruction. Israel and its allies accuse Hamas of using civilian infrastructure as shields, while Hamas and many human rights groups argue that Israel’s responses are disproportionate and violate international law.
The October 7, 2023 attack was a watershed moment. Hamas militants crossed into Israel, killing over 1,000 people, including civilians, and taking hostages. Israel responded with a full-scale military campaign in Gaza, resulting in massive civilian casualties and international outrage. The brutality of the Hamas attack and the scale of Israel’s retaliation both intensified debates about the nature of the conflict, humanitarian law, and the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations.
International Perception and Designation
Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and others. These designations are primarily due to its attacks on civilians, its suicide bombings, and its refusal to renounce violence or recognize Israel.
However, Hamas also has defenders and supporters. Some countries — including Iran, Turkey, and Qatar — support Hamas politically, financially, or militarily. Iran, in particular, has been a major patron, supplying weapons and training. Hamas also receives grassroots support from parts of the Muslim world and within Palestinian society, where it is viewed by many as a legitimate resistance movement.
Some analysts argue that isolating Hamas politically and militarily has backfired, pushing it toward more extreme positions and making peace more difficult. Others believe that legitimizing Hamas without fundamental changes to its ideology and behavior would reward violence and undermine peace efforts.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Hamas faces numerous internal and external challenges:
- Internal Governance: Running Gaza has proven difficult. The territory is under a tight Israeli-Egyptian blockade, its economy is in ruins, and public services are strained. While Hamas remains popular in some circles, it also faces criticism over corruption, authoritarianism, and failure to deliver better living conditions.
- Relations with Fatah: Despite repeated attempts at reconciliation, Hamas and Fatah remain deeply divided. This fragmentation weakens the Palestinian national movement and undermines the possibility of unified representation in peace negotiations.
- Peace Prospects: Hamas’s refusal to recognize Israel, along with Israel’s refusal to engage directly with Hamas, creates a diplomatic deadlock. Some have suggested a new approach involving conditional recognition, ceasefires, or long-term truces (hudna), but there is little trust on either side.
- Regional Shifts: The normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab states through the Abraham Accords and similar initiatives has further isolated Hamas. However, regional sympathy for the Palestinian cause remains strong, especially during conflicts.
Conclusion
Hamas is a complex and polarizing actor. To some, it is a legitimate resistance movement fighting for Palestinian rights under occupation. To others, it is a fundamentalist organization committed to violence and the destruction of Israel. It operates both as a political party and a militant force, blending ideological rigidity with pragmatic adaptations.
Understanding Hamas requires moving beyond simplistic labels and engaging with the historical, religious, and political factors that gave rise to it — and continue to sustain it. Any lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must grapple with the realities Hamas represents: the deep-rooted grievances of many Palestinians, the failures of past peace processes, and the enduring tensions between nationalism, religion, and politics in the region.
