On Hamas

 

Hamas, a Palestinian militant and political organization, has pursued a complex strategy that blends political, military, and social elements. While specific strategies may vary over time and in response to different situations, Hamas generally employs a mix of the following strategic approaches:

1. Armed Resistance and Asymmetric Warfare

• Primary Goal: End Israeli occupation and establish a Palestinian state, ideally encompassing all of historical Palestine, which includes present-day Israel.
• Tactics:
  • Hamas frequently uses asymmetric warfare, including rocket attacks, guerrilla tactics, suicide bombings, and cross-border raids. They know they cannot match Israel’s military strength directly, so they rely on irregular warfare to maximize their impact while operating from densely populated urban areas like Gaza.
  • Surprise Attacks: The October 7, 2023 attack was an example of this strategy, with Hamas launching a large-scale assault on Israeli towns, targeting both military and civilian areas. The aim of such surprise offensives is to inflict damage, provoke fear, and demonstrate capability despite the military imbalance.

2. Political Governance and Social Services

• Governance in Gaza: Since winning the 2006 Palestinian elections and taking control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Hamas has acted as the de facto government in the region. They provide governance, social services, and infrastructure in Gaza. This dual role as both a militant organization and a governing body gives Hamas political legitimacy among some Palestinians.
• Winning Popular Support: By delivering social services (e.g., healthcare, education, and welfare) to a population often under duress from blockades and conflict, Hamas seeks to cultivate loyalty among Palestinians, especially in Gaza. Their network of social services contrasts with the corruption accusations against the Palestinian Authority, boosting their popularity.

3. Leveraging Conflict for Political Gain

• Diplomatic Positioning: Hamas uses periods of conflict to improve its standing domestically and internationally. During times of heightened tension, Hamas aims to present itself as the foremost protector of Palestinian rights, overshadowing rival factions like Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.
• International Pressure on Israel: By provoking Israeli military responses through attacks, Hamas often counts on the resulting casualties and destruction to trigger international condemnation of Israel, which can lead to increased pressure on Israel from global powers and human rights organizations.
• Disruption of Peace Processes: Hamas has historically opposed peace talks that involve recognizing Israel's right to exist. It aims to disrupt negotiations that do not meet its maximalist goals, using violence as a tool to derail peace efforts it views as unfavorable or illegitimate.

4. Manipulating Media and Global Perception

• Media Warfare: Hamas strategically utilizes both traditional media and social media to frame its actions in terms of resistance against occupation and oppression. Images and narratives of Palestinian suffering, particularly when civilians are affected by Israeli military operations, are used to garner sympathy and shift public opinion globally.
• Civilian Shielding: Operating from within civilian areas like schools, hospitals, and residential neighborhoods, Hamas is often accused of using civilians as human shields. This complicates Israel’s military response and can lead to higher civilian casualties, which Hamas can then use to portray Israel as excessively brutal in international media.

5. Regional and International Alliances

• Support from Iran: Hamas has received significant financial, military, and logistical support from Iran, which sees the group as a key player in its strategy to challenge Israel and Western influence in the region. Iran provides Hamas with weaponry, technology for rockets, and military training.
• Relations with Other Islamist Movements: Hamas is part of the broader Muslim Brotherhood movement and maintains connections with other Islamist groups across the Middle East. While not all of these groups share the same goals, they often have overlapping ideological frameworks.
• Ties with Other Arab States: While some Arab governments distance themselves from Hamas due to its Islamist ideology or tactical disagreements, Hamas sometimes benefits from broader Arab popular sympathy for the Palestinian cause, which provides political and financial support.

6. Negotiation Tactics and Hostage Diplomacy

• Prisoner Swaps: Hamas has a long history of capturing Israeli soldiers or civilians, using them as bargaining chips in negotiations. For example, the 2011 exchange of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners demonstrated how Hamas could use hostages to achieve strategic political objectives.
• Ceasefire Negotiations: Hamas often engages in ceasefire negotiations following periods of conflict, using them as a means to secure tactical gains, such as easing the Israeli blockade or obtaining concessions in prisoner exchanges.

7. Exploiting Palestinian Divisions

• Fatah-Hamas Rivalry: Hamas capitalizes on the deep political divide between itself and Fatah, the dominant party in the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank. By positioning itself as more confrontational and uncompromising on Palestinian rights, Hamas appeals to segments of the population disillusioned with Fatah’s more diplomatic and negotiation-focused approach. This rivalry weakens overall Palestinian unity but allows Hamas to consolidate control over Gaza.

8. Long-Term Goal: Islamization and a Palestinian State

• Hamas’s ideological foundations are tied to its long-term goal of establishing an Islamic state in all of Palestine. Its charter originally called for the destruction of Israel, although in recent years Hamas has softened its rhetoric in some public statements. Despite this, the group remains committed to the idea that Palestine, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, should be a sovereign Islamic state.

Conclusion

Hamas’s strategy is multi-layered, blending military resistance with political maneuvering, social services, and media influence. The organization leverages both its role as a resistance movement and a governing body in Gaza to maintain power and influence. At the same time, its militant actions aim to challenge Israel, disrupt peace processes, and secure political leverage. Despite its isolation from many Western powers, Hamas remains influential through its relationships with Iran and other regional actors, as well as its popularity among parts of the Palestinian population.

Its tactics, particularly involving asymmetric warfare, civilian casualties, and surprise attacks like the October 7, 2023 assault, are aimed at weakening Israeli security, drawing international attention, and forcing political concessions, even as they often result in escalated conflict.

Hamas' primary goal is the establishment of an Islamic state in all of historic Palestine, which includes the current state of Israel and the Palestinian territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip). In pursuit of this, Hamas aims to:

1. Eliminate the State of Israel: Hamas fundamentally rejects the existence of Israel, as outlined in its founding charter, viewing the land as a religiously endowed Islamic territory (waqf) that cannot be ceded or compromised. While the group has softened its rhetoric over the years, suggesting it might tolerate a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders as an interim solution, it ultimately seeks Israel's eradication.

2. Liberate Palestine through Armed Struggle: Hamas sees armed resistance as a core means of achieving Palestinian liberation. This includes guerrilla warfare, rocket attacks, and other forms of violent resistance against Israeli forces and civilians.

3. Establish an Islamic State: Hamas envisions the creation of a state governed by Islamic law (Sharia). Its ideology is rooted in Islamist thought, which merges Palestinian nationalism with religious duty, framing its fight against Israel as both a nationalist struggle and a religious obligation.

4. Lead the Palestinian Cause: In the broader Palestinian context, Hamas seeks to position itself as the leader of the Palestinian resistance and governance. This sometimes brings it into conflict with the Palestinian Authority (PA), which is dominated by its rival faction, Fatah, and seeks a negotiated two-state solution with Israel.

While Hamas’ 2017 revised policy document appeared more pragmatic, allowing for the possibility of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, it did not renounce its ultimate goal of an Islamic state over all of historic Palestine or its commitment to armed resistance.

Fatah, the dominant faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), plays a key role in Palestinian politics, diplomacy, and governance, positioning itself as a major player in the Palestinian national movement. Its role can be summarized in the following areas:

1. Political Leadership and Governance:

• Palestinian Authority (PA): Fatah has led the Palestinian Authority (PA), the semi-autonomous government established as part of the 1993 Oslo Accords, which governs parts of the West Bank. Since the 1990s, Fatah leaders, particularly Yasser Arafat (until his death in 2004) and current president Mahmoud Abbas, have dominated Palestinian politics.
• West Bank Control: Fatah controls the West Bank, managing governance, security, and negotiations with Israel. However, it has been criticized for internal corruption, inefficiency, and a lack of political renewal.

2. Diplomatic Approach and Two-State Solution:

• Peace Negotiations with Israel: Unlike Hamas, Fatah is committed to a negotiated two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, based on pre-1967 borders. Fatah participated in peace talks with Israel, resulting in the Oslo Accords and ongoing diplomatic efforts, although these have largely stalled in recent years.
• International Diplomacy: Fatah, through the PLO and PA, has pursued diplomatic recognition of Palestinian statehood internationally, gaining observer status at the United Nations and garnering international support for Palestinian self-determination.

3. Moderate, Secular Nationalism:

• Secular and Nationalist Ideology: Fatah is traditionally secular and nationalist, representing a more moderate alternative to Hamas’ Islamist ideology. It promotes Palestinian national identity and the establishment of a state based on secular, democratic principles.

4. Rivalry with Hamas:

• Internal Palestinian Division: Fatah has been in a bitter rivalry with Hamas, especially since 2007, when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip after winning elections in 2006. This division has created a geographic and political split between the West Bank (controlled by Fatah) and Gaza (controlled by Hamas). Efforts at reconciliation have repeatedly failed, leading to ongoing tension and competition for leadership of the Palestinian cause.
• Security Cooperation with Israel: Fatah, through the PA, has cooperated with Israel on security matters in the West Bank, aiming to maintain stability and prevent Hamas or other militant groups from gaining power there. This cooperation is highly controversial and is viewed by some Palestinians as complicity with Israel’s occupation.

5. Role in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO):

• International Representation: Fatah remains the dominant faction within the PLO, which is recognized as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people by the United Nations and most of the international community. The PLO advocates for Palestinian rights and continues to engage in diplomatic efforts globally.

In summary, Fatah's role is primarily centered around governance, diplomacy, and advocating for a two-state solution through negotiation. However, its rivalry with Hamas and internal challenges have fragmented the Palestinian movement, complicating efforts for Palestinian unity and statehood.