An Analysis of the Islamic Resistance Movement: Hamas
Background: Radical Islamism in the Middle East Throughout the course of history, particularly over the last century, the Middle East has been identified as a growing source of hostility and violence due to its extensive involvement in religious conflict, ethnic rivalry, territorial dispute, and war. Poor governance, as well as the absence of an effective civil society and the lack of the rule of law, has led to the demise of several states within the region. Such instability has fostered the growth of religious extremism and brutality while insurgent groups and established terrorist organizations have converted these territories into safe havens to facilitate their radical operations. As a result, almost every country in the Middle East has been affected by militant Islamist movements. While the Arab-Israeli peace accord was a hindrance to Islamist ideology, the Iranian Revolution and the great opposition of the Afghani mujahedeen against the invading Soviet army has revived the movement.
History and Formation of Hamas Hamas, the acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (the Islamic Resistance Movement), was created in response to the intifada, which signified the beginning of true political resurgence among the Islamic forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip combating Israeli invasion and national secular forces led by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Up until that time, the most influential Islamic movement in the region, the Muslim Brotherhood, avoided forceful resistance against the Israeli occupation, which impeded their ability to progress as a popular force; however, the unprecedented events that took place in Palestine and the internal pressures of the movement compelled the Brotherhood to take part in the resistance by forming an interrelated organization. “On 8 December 1987, a motor accident in the Gaza Strip involving an Israeli truck and small vehicles transporting Palestinian workers, several of whom were killed, triggered
History and Formation of Hamas Hamas, the acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (the Islamic Resistance Movement), was created in response to the intifada, which signified the beginning of true political resurgence among the Islamic forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip combating Israeli invasion and national secular forces led by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Up until that time, the most influential Islamic movement in the region, the Muslim Brotherhood, avoided forceful resistance against the Israeli occupation, which impeded their ability to progress as a popular force; however, the unprecedented events that took place in Palestine and the internal pressures of the movement compelled the Brotherhood to take part in the resistance by forming an interrelated organization. “On 8 December 1987, a motor accident in the Gaza Strip involving an Israeli truck and small vehicles transporting Palestinian workers, several of whom were killed, triggered
Cited: Ḥarūb, Khālid. Hamas: A Beginner 's Guide. Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto, 2006. "Palestine Center - The Charter of the Hamas." Palestine Center. Jerusalem Fund, 1988. Web. 07 May 2012. http://www.thejerusalemfund.org/www.thejerusalemfund.org/carryover/ documents/charter.html Santis, Yitzhak Silver, Alexandra. "Hamas ' Leaders." Council on Foreign Relations. 10 Feb. 2006. Web. 06 May 2012. http://www.cfr.org/palestinian-authority/hamas-leaders/p981 -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. Ziad Abu-Amr. "Hamas: A Historical and Political Background." Journal of Palestine Studies 22.4 (1993): 5-19. JSTOR. University California Press, 1993. p. 5. [ 6 ]. "Palestine Center - The Charter of the Hamas." Palestine Center. Jerusalem Fund, 1988.. [ 9 ]. "Palestine Center - The Charter of the Hamas." Palestine Center. Jerusalem Fund, 1988. Article 1. [ 11 ]. Ziad Abu-Amr. "Hamas: A Historical and Political Background." Journal of Palestine Studies 22.4 (1993): 5-19. JSTOR. University California Press, 1993. p. 12. [ 12 ]. "Palestine Center - The Charter of the Hamas." Palestine Center. Jerusalem Fund, 1988. Article 11. [ 13 ]. Ziad Abu-Amr. "Hamas: A Historical and Political Background." Journal of Palestine Studies 22.4 (1993): 5-19. JSTOR. University California Press, 1993. p. 12. [ 19 ]. Ziad Abu-Amr. "Hamas: A Historical and Political Background." Journal of Palestine Studies 22.4 (1993): 5-19. JSTOR. University California Press, 1993. p. 14. [ 22 ]. Ziad Abu-Amr. "Hamas: A Historical and Political Background." Journal of Palestine Studies 22.4 (1993): 5-19. JSTOR. University California Press, 1993. p. 10. [ 25 ]. Ziad Abu-Amr. "Hamas: A Historical and Political Background." Journal of Palestine Studies 22.4 (1993): 5-19. JSTOR. University California Press, 1993. p. 13. [ 33 ]. Khālid Ḥarūb. Hamas: A Beginner 's Guide. Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto, 2006. [ 36 ]. "Palestine Center - The Charter of the Hamas." Palestine Center. Jerusalem Fund, 1988. [ 38 ]. “Hamas Fact Sheet.” Hamas Fact Sheet. 30 Jan. 2006. Web. 08 May 2012.