Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $9.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Hamas: Understanding a Controversial Organization
    Hamas: Understanding a Controversial Organization
    Hamas: Understanding a Controversial Organization
    Ebook201 pages1 hour

    Hamas: Understanding a Controversial Organization

    By Ashu Dhyani

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Dive into the heart of one of the world's most controversial organizations with "Hamas: Understanding a Controversial Organization." This fascinating exploration takes you beyond the headlines and political rhetoric, providing a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of Hamas and its role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    Discover the complexities surrounding Hamas as the book delves into its history, ideologies and actions. It's not just about politics: it's a journey into the complex tapestry of resistance, governance and the aspirations of a people fighting for a state under occupation.

    The book walks through key events, introduces the architects of Hamas, and provides a platform for the voices shaping its trajectory. Through brief profiles, timelines, and interviews, readers gain insight into the geopolitical realities and human dimensions of the conflict. This is not a one-sided narrative; it is a balanced exploration that invites readers to think critically and engage with the multifaceted aspects of Hamas.

    Whether you are familiar with the complex history of the Middle East or are just beginning to explore it, this book is a captivating guide. It transcends boundaries and sparks conversations, providing clarity in the midst of controversy. "Hamas: Understanding a Controversial Organization" is not just a book; it's an opportunity to peel back layers, question assumptions, and better understand a conundrum that continues to shape the global political landscape. Are you ready to embark on this enlightening journey?.

    Know the role of all these big names and organizations...
    Hamas, Gaza Strip, Israel, Palestine, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Israel-Palestine War, Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Qatar, America, Russia, Hezbollah, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Kin Jong Un, Pakistan.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFantabulous Publishers
    Release dateJan 29, 2024
    ISBN9798224247899
    Hamas: Understanding a Controversial Organization

    Related to Hamas

    Related ebooks

    Middle Eastern History For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Freedom For The Hollow Lands

      Jan 15, 2024

      Freedom For The Hollow Lands
      4 min read

    • Article

      What Hamas Wants

      Oct 16, 2023

      What Hamas Wants
      6 min read

    • Article

      Subcontracted Nations

      Nov 1, 2018

      Subcontracted Nations
      2 min read

    • Article

      Palestinian Struggle

      Sep 17, 2023

      It’s one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. On a sunny day outside the White House, then-US president Bill Clinton stands open-armed before then-Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The latter duo – r

      4 min read

    • Article

      Equal Citizens, One State?

      Jun 6, 2023

      Can the Oslo Accords and two-state solution be considered a genuine peace agreement between two equal parties? The Oslo Accords were negotiated in a historical moment that Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat deemed ‘the w

      5 min read

    • Article

      How Large the Gulf?

      Dec 14, 2024

      How Large the Gulf?
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Reckoning

      Oct 10, 2023

      The Reckoning
      8 min read

    • Article

      Home Truths

      Aug 12, 2022

      Home Truths
      3 min read

    • Article

      Dance Of Death By Derailing Peace, Israel’s Hardliners And Hamas Aid Each Other

      Nov 10, 2023

      Beneath the surface of the war between Israel and Hamas, another conflict rages. In this clash, the battle lines are drawn in a very different place, and the alliances and enmities take unexpected shapes. When the current violence subsides, we shall

      3 min read

    • Article

      The enigma Of Hamas

      Mar 29, 2024

      The enigma Of Hamas
      18 min read

    • Article

      Stateless in Gaza

      Oct 28, 2021

      Stateless in Gaza
      7 min read

    • Article

      Make Sense. Make Peace

      Jan 12, 2024

      Make Sense. Make Peace
      2 min read

    • Article

      My Hope for Palestine

      Nov 4, 2024

      My Hope for Palestine
      10 min read

    • Article

      The World’s Job During The War

      Oct 27, 2023

      Aviv Kutz, a member of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, was a childhood friend of a very close friend of mine. Aviv and his wife Livnat and their three children have lived in Kfar Aza for years. Although the Kutz family endured many Hamas rocket and mortar attacks

      3 min read

    • Article

      The World’s Job During The War

      Oct 28, 2023

      Aviv Kutz, a member of Kibbutz Kfar Aza, was a childhood friend of a very close friend of mine. Aviv and his wife Livnat and their three children have lived in Kfar Aza for years. Although the Kutz family endured many Hamas rocket and mortar attacks

      3 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Hamas

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Hamas - Ashu Dhyani

      Chapter 1: Introduction

      AS WE PLUNGE INTO THE labyrinth of the Israeli-Palestinian saga, there exists a name that reverberates with both intrigue and controversy—Hamas. The mere mention of this enigmatic entity conjures up images of resistance, conflict, and an unwavering commitment that has left an indelible mark on the volatile canvas of the Middle East.

      Amidst the perpetual backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian clash, Hamas emerges as a central figure, its role both pivotal and polarizing. Forged in the crucible of political turbulence within the Palestinian territories, it has evolved into a multifaceted force, wielding influence that ripples across the region. Consider this chapter your invitation into the captivating world of Hamas—a sneak peek into its inner workings, a glimpse at its historical roots, and an exploration of its delicate dance as both a political powerhouse and a formidable militant force.

      However, to truly grasp the complexities of Hamas and its role in the ongoing drama, let's rewind the clock to its origin—a time when the Palestinian territories were alive with the fervor of protest, rebellion, and an impassioned call for self-determination.

      1.1a The Genesis of Hamas

      As the night draped its mysterious cloak over the Al-Shati refugee camp on December 9, 1987, an unassuming house became the clandestine stage for an event that would alter the course of Palestinian history. Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, a paraplegic luminary with a flowing white beard and a reputation for visionary wisdom, took center stage in this clandestine gathering. The walls of Shati, haunted by the collective memories of dispossession, bore witness to a chapter yet unwritten.

      Amidst the flickering shadows, Yassin, the host and inadvertent harbinger of change, welcomed a diverse assembly of attendees—refugees, like himself, from towns and villages swallowed by the ever-expanding borders of Israel. Their urgency was palpable, a shared sense of displacement and a pressing need to make sense of the swirling events around them.

      In the intimate quarters of that humble abode, the air crackled with anticipation. The gathering was more than a convergence of individuals; it was a collective pilgrimage to redefine the Palestinian narrative. Against the backdrop of Shati's narrow alleyways and the haunting tales of a dispersed people, the embryonic seeds of what would become Hamas found fertile ground.

      The scene was set, and the walls whispered witness to the birth pangs of a movement. Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, in his visionary stature, inadvertently laid the cornerstone for an entity that would navigate the labyrinth of Palestinian identity and resistance. Unbeknownst to those present, the narrative of that night would not be confined to the Shati refugee camp. It would resonate through the decades, shaping the very contours of a story that continues to unfold against the complex backdrop of the Middle East. The genesis of Hamas, a chapter yet untold, had begun.

      In the late 1980s, amidst the tumult of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hamas, derived from the Arabic acronym Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah or the Islamic Resistance Movement, officially came into existence. The backdrop was the First Intifada, a period when the Palestinian territories resonated with protests, uprisings, and a fervent call for independence. In this cauldron of unrest, Hamas found its raison d'être.

      Born as a response to the perceived shortcomings of existing Palestinian political entities, Hamas, led by visionaries like Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, aimed to fill the void. Their vision was a unique blend of religious devotion and political resistance, with the overarching goal of countering Israeli occupation and ultimately establishing an Islamic state in historic Palestine.

      1.1b The First Intifada: Seeds of Dissent

      The First Intifada , or Uprising, that burst into life in December 1987 was a turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It was an organic and largely grassroots Palestinian uprising, characterized by its spontaneity and a genuine expression of the people's collective desire for independence and an end to the perceived Israeli oppression that had cast a long shadow over their lives.

      The Intifada, which means shaking off in Arabic, was a manifestation of the deep-seated grievances that had festered among Palestinians for years. In a landscape marred by military checkpoints, restricted movement, and economic hardship, a spark was all that was needed to ignite this conflagration of discontent.

      During this tumultuous period, a wide range of political and social movements emerged, each vying to represent the Palestinian cause. These included the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Fatah, and a host of other factions. Yet, among this mosaic of resistance, Hamas found its niche and its raison d'être.

      Life in the occupied Palestinian territories had become increasingly difficult, with the restrictions imposed by Israeli military occupation creating a pressure cooker of frustration and resentment. It was within this cauldron of unrest that the First Intifada was born.

      The spark that ignited the Intifada came in the form of a tragic traffic accident. On December 8, 1987, an Israeli truck collided with a vehicle carrying Palestinian laborers, resulting in the deaths of four Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The incident quickly became a focal point for widespread anger and frustration.

      The spontaneous outpouring of grief and rage was akin to a dam bursting, as Palestinians, both young and old, poured into the streets, fueling a rapidly growing movement. Protests, strikes, and demonstrations quickly spread, transcending geographical and demographic boundaries.

      The heart of the Intifada was a yearning for self-determination and an end to Israeli occupation. Palestinians had witnessed the peace process, encapsulated in the Oslo Accords, stagnate without delivering the promised resolution to their plight. They had endured years of subjugation, displacement, and loss, and they saw the First Intifada as a genuine, grassroots expression of their desire for freedom and sovereignty.

      Palestinians from all walks of life, from students to workers to families, took part in the uprising. Young people, in particular, played a significant role, hurling stones and molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers, becoming the iconic face of the Intifada. They, too, had known little else but occupation, curfews, and checkpoints.

      What further distinguished the First Intifada was the emergence of a diverse mosaic of political and social movements, each striving to represent the Palestinian cause. In this period of fervor and political awakening, existing factions such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), led by Yasser Arafat, and Fatah, the dominant faction within the PLO, continued to exert their influence.

      However, the Intifada opened the door to new voices in the Palestinian struggle. Among them was Hamas, which found fertile ground for its message of combining religious devotion with political resistance. Hamas's founders believed that this combination could offer a unique approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

      To understand Hamas's genesis within the First Intifada, we must also acknowledge the suffering of the Palestinian people. Their pain was palpable and found expression in the Intifada's fervent call for justice. The desire for independence was not an abstract concept; it was a visceral need for a generation that had grown up knowing little else but conflict and occupation.

      Countless Palestinians had experienced the loss of loved ones, seen their homes demolished, or felt the daily humiliation of living under Israeli military rule. The First Intifada became a collective catharsis, a cry for freedom, justice, and the reclamation of their stolen dignity.

      1.1c A Religious Response

      Hamas set itself apart from the existing political factions by intertwining its struggle for Palestinian independence with a deeply rooted Islamist ideology. Founded by individuals such as Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, Hamas aimed to offer a unique blend of Islamic devotion and political resistance. Its message resonated with a segment of the Palestinian population that sought a more religiously grounded approach to the conflict.

      At its core, Hamas viewed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a religious lens. The organization's founding charter, published in 1988, expressed its commitment to the establishment of an Islamic state in historic Palestine, encompassing present-day Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. This vision was fundamentally different from the secular nationalist approach advocated by the PLO and Fatah.

      Hamas's charter contained elements of anti-Semitism and rejected the legitimacy of the State of Israel. Its ideology viewed the struggle against Israeli occupation as a religious duty, and it justified the use of violence to achieve its goals.

      At its core, Hamas's identity was deeply intertwined with the Islamic faith. This distinctive fusion of religion and political resistance was an intrinsic part of the organization's character. It aimed to create a unique narrative that framed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a religious lens, asserting that their struggle was not merely a political one, but a divine duty.

      The leaders of Hamas believed that by grounding their resistance in religious principles, they could rally support from segments of the Palestinian population who sought a more faith-based approach to the conflict. In doing so, they offered an alternative to the secular nationalist approach advocated by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and its

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1