The Hamas organization launched a surprise assault on Israel, entering the nation from Gaza and killing thousands of civilians and kidnapping lots of victims.
Defense clashes between Israel and Hamas are common. Since 2007, Hamas has engaged Israel in a number of war and carried out dozens of lethal terrorist attacks.
Israel has frequently attacked Hamas with airstrikes in retaliation for those assaults, and since 2007, Egypt has blockaded Gaza by land, air, or sea. Living standards are significantly impacted by this siege, which restricts what can be brought into Gaza, forbids all exports, and imposes tight restrictions on immigration and exit.
But, Saturday’s attack was exceptional and of a magnitude never before seen.
Israeli, US, EU, and UK nations have all designated Hamas, or in some instances, its military aircraft, al-Qaissam regiments, as a terrorist organization. Iran supports it and gives it money, munitions, and education.
Hamas was established during the first revolution, which ran from 1987 to 1993. To overthrow Israel’s guideline and create an independent Palestinian state, Palestinians staged a series of rebellion in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Although it was mostly non-violent, there were a few instances of marble pushing, civil disobedience, and other techniques.
Hamas is an abbreviation for the Islamic Resistance Movement, also known as Harakat al-Muqawama al – Islamiya. It was founded by Palestinian cleric Sheikh Ahmed Yassin to take the place of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad( PIJ ), a group that threatened to drive Palestinian support away from the region’s active transnational Islamist movement known as the Muslim Brotherhood.
The founding of a Palestinian state and the destruction of Israel were the goals of the radical and dramatic movement Hamas, which was founded in 1988. Inciting violence against Jews, enforcing Sharia rules, and rejecting any efforts to bring about peace were even mentioned in the contract.
In 2017, Hamas updated its mandate, omitting mentions of murdering Jews and appearing to soften its stance toward Israel by mentioning the establishment of the Palestinian state in accordance with the June 4, 1967 agreement.
But, the new contract stated that Palestine, which stretches from Ras Al-Naqurah in the northwest to Umm Al – Rashrash, is” extended from the River Jordan in west to the Mediterranean in west.” Now, a sizable portion of Jewish place is covered by this geography. One of Hamas’ catchphrases,” From the valley to the water ,” still connotes a complete takeover of Israel.
Private rule under Hamas
The Gaza Strip, a region of the Arab territories, is governed by Hamas’ social extension. The West Bank, which is governed by the Palestinian Authority( PA ), is the other component.
The Fatah group, the main group within the Palestinian Liberation Organization, is in charge of the PA. Hamas does hardly recognize Israel, whereas Fatah is a liberal, nationalist group.
In the 2006 congressional vote, which was the last one held in the Palestinian territories, Hamas defeated Fatah. Because Hamas is viewed by many in the West as a criminal organization that does not recognize Israel’s right to exist, the 2006 election was never recognized by the Western world.
In the end, the team gained control in Gaza in 2007 while the PA remained in power in the West Bank. Since then, no vote has been called.
People’s lives have been somewhat improved by some cultural, financial, and social activities under Hamas’ democratic rule over the Gaza Strip, such as school administration. Hamas’ fraud, however, also has an effect; instead of local programs, the group focuses and spends a lot of money attacking Israel.
The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in the Palestinian Territories conducted a survey of 1, 270 adults in June 2023, and found that the political division of Palestinian territories— with PA ruling the West Bank and Hamas governing Gaza — was” the most damaging development that has occurred since 1948, followed by the occupation of the WBank and the Gaza Strip in 1967.”
According to the same crown, only one-third of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank would support Hamas over PA in a national poll.
Despite numerous human rights violations, such as the harassment and abuse of LGBT individuals, women, and political critics, Hamas continues to enjoy these relatively high levels of support. It is questionable whether aid will be strong following this invasion and the new siege Israel has imposed on Gaza, cutting off supplies of food, light, and waters.
The exact motivation behind Hamas’ invasion is unclear. Given the timing, it’s possible that the group wants to keep the Israel-Saudi marriage from becoming normal. This peace agreement, which has been in the works for months, would result in Israel’s acknowledgment by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia may obtain security assurances from Israel’s closest friend, the US, in return.
But, it is obvious that Israel and Hamas are currently at war.
Veronika Poniscjakova teaches as a top training fellow at the University of Portsmouth’s Military Education program.
Under a Creative Commons license, this post has been republished from The Conversation. Read the original publication.