Hamas
Ḥamās (Arabic: حَماس), also known as the Islamic Resistance Movement (Arabic: حركة المقاومة الإسلامية), is an Islamic resistance movement in Palestine. It was established in 1987 with the goal of liberating the occupied lands of Palestine. Hamas is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, serving as an ideological offshoot of the organization. Its members identify as Sunni Muslims.
The key strategic principles outlined in Hamas's charter include an emphasis on the Islamic nature of Palestine, the liberation of occupied lands, the belief that Palestine belongs to the entire Islamic nation until the Day of Resurrection and opposition to the Zionist regime.
In 2005, Hamas made a transition into politics. During the 2007 elections, it emerged victorious over the Fatah Movement and assumed administrative control of the Gaza Strip. Since then, Hamas has conducted various military operations against Israel with the objective of defending the population in the Gaza Strip and working towards the liberation of Palestine in response to the military invasions of the Zionist regime.
Hamas is viewed by its supporters as a legitimate resistance force, while its opponents, such as the Zionist Regime, the United States, and England, categorize and impose sanctions on it as a terrorist organization.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched its largest offensive, known as "al-Aqsa Storm," in response to the Zionist regime's crimes, including the killing of Palestinians and the desecration of the al-Aqsa Mosque.
A Member of the Resistance Front
Hamas, also known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Sunni movement and an ideological offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine. It was founded with the objective of liberating the occupied lands of Palestine. According to Hamas's charter, one of its primary goals is the elimination of the Zionist regime. It is important to note that Hamas differentiates between Jews and Zionists, emphasizing that their opposition is directed towards the Zionist ideology rather than the Jewish people themselves.
Hamas places a high priority on training individuals, families, and society as a whole to lay the foundation for the establishment of an Islamic State in Palestine. Initially, when Hamas was formed, countering the occupation of Palestine was not its primary focus. However, over time, it transitioned into engaging in armed combat.
Supporters of Hamas perceive it as a regional resistance force that operates within a defined legal framework. On the other hand, countries like the USA, England, and members of the European Union have designated Hamas, or at least its military wing, as a terrorist organization and have imposed sanctions accordingly. However, it is noteworthy that the United Nations has not classified Hamas or any of its factions as a terrorist organization at this time.
Resistance against the Israeli Occupation
Hamas has consistently responded to Israeli invasions by engaging in military conflicts and launching missile attacks on Israeli cities. In several wars initiated by Israel against the people of Gaza, Hamas has retaliated, leading to ceasefires facilitated by Islamic countries like Qatar and the United Nations. Having limited financial resources, including zakat and religious payments from Palestinians, Hamas receives financial aid from Muslim individuals and countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Jordan, and Sudan, which support its cause.
Operation al-Aqsa Flood
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack in the occupied lands controlled by Israel, in direct response to the Zionist regime's crimes of killing Palestinians and desecrating the al-Aqsa Mosque. This operation, known as al-Aqsa Flood, involved Hamas forces conducting rocket attacks on Zionist settlements and executing terrestrial, aerial, and marine infiltrations into different regions of Israel. During the operation, they successfully captured dozens of Israeli settlers, transporting them to Gaza. Additionally, Hamas temporarily gained control over certain Zionist settlements.
This operation by Hamas against Israel is considered unprecedented, and according to reports from the Alalam News Network, Israeli media have acknowledged that the Israeli regime has never experienced such a significant defeat in its history. Based on statistics published up until the tenth day after the start of the attack, it is reported that 1,400 Israelis were killed and over 3,000 were injured. The attack elicited various reactions, including gatherings held in support of Hamas in many countries. Many analysts view this operation as a natural consequence of decades of perceived injustice and occupation by the Zionist regime.
Historical Origins of Hamas
Hamas, also known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, is said to have been formed on December 9, 1987, coinciding with the beginning of the Palestinian people's demonstrations against Israel, known as the First Intifada, in Palestine. According to the al-Jazeera website, Hamas was established in December 1986 by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and several members of the Muslim Brotherhood, including Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi and Mahmoud al-Zahar. However, its official announcement of the establishment came in 1987. Initially, the movement was led by a group of seven, with Ahmad Yassin at the helm. Yassin led the group for many years until his assassination by Israeli forces in 2004. Following his death, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi assumed leadership but was martyred in the same year. Subsequently, Khaled Mashal took the reins of Hamas. In 2017, Ismail Haniyeh became the leader of the group.
In 2005, Hamas achieved victory in Palestinian elections, making it the first Islamist group in the Arab world to win elections and participate in politics. Subsequently, in 2007, following clashes with Fatah forces led by Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas emerged victorious, gaining political control of the Gaza Strip, which is an isolated territory within Palestinian land.
Hamas, similar to other branches of the Muslim Brotherhood, is said to draw a significant portion of its ideology from Hassan al-Banna, the Egyptian founder and theorist of the Muslim Brotherhood. The organizational structure of Hamas closely resembles the general structure of the Muslim Brotherhood Movement, with a foundation rooted in Islamic principles, council, and leadership based on public pledge of allegiance and obedience to the leader. Hamas's activities are guided by three primary institutions: the political bureau, the propagation bureau, and the military bureau. The military wing of Hamas, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was established in 1991.
Charters
On August 18, 1988, Hamas issued a 36-article charter or covenant, outlining its objectives and strategies. The positions articulated in this charter are said to bear resemblance to the positions of the Muslim Brotherhood. The main strategic doctrine of the charter emphasizes the Islamic nature of Palestine and the opposition to the Zionist regime. Other elements highlighted in Hamas's charter include an emphasis on the Islamic character of the movement, the establishment of an Islamic state and constitution based on Islamic Shari'a, the belief that Palestine belongs to the entire Islamic nation until the Day of Resurrection without any compromise, the emphasis on jihad as an Islamic doctrine and the focus on the liberation of all of Palestine's land. The eighth article of the charter features Hamas's slogan, which aligns with that of the Muslim Brotherhood. On May 1, 2017, Hamas unveiled its second political charter or covenant in Doha, Qatar, which exhibits differences from the first charter.
Islamic Republic of Iran’s Support of Hamas
Critics of Hamas often highlight Iran as the main financial, logistical, military, and weaponry supporter of the group. In 1991, due to their shared objectives, Iran began supporting Hamas, which included establishing a political office in Tehran and facilitating the travel of Hamas leaders to Iran. However, during the Syrian conflict involving armed rebels and ISIS terrorists, disagreements between some members of Hamas and the Islamic Republic of Iran over the situation in Syria led to a temporary cooling of their relations. Nonetheless, Hamas endeavors to maintain its relationships with Shiite groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Additionally, it seeks to strengthen ties with other Islamic countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Monographs
Hamas: harakat al-muqawama al-Islamiyya: judhuruha, nash'atuha, wa-fikruha al-siyasi (Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement: its roots, origins, and political thought) by Khaled Abu Amrayn, Egypt: Center for Arabic Culture.
References
- This material for this article is mainly taken from حماس in Farsi WikiShia.