Global InformationHistory of Hamas information
The History of Hamas is an account of the Palestinian Islamist[1][2] fundamentalist[3][4][5] socio-political organization with an associated paramilitary force, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.[1][6][7] Hamas (حماس) Ḥamās is an acronym of حركة المقاومة الاسلامية Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamat al-Islāmiyyah, meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement".
Hamas was established in 1987, and has its origins in Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement, which had been active in the Gaza Strip since the 1950s and gained influence through a network of mosques and various charitable and social organizations. In the 1980s the Brotherhood emerged as a powerful political factor, challenging the influence of the PLO,[5] and in 1987 adopted a more nationalist and activist line under the name of Hamas.[5] During the 1990s and early 2000s, the organization conducted numerous suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel.
In the Palestinian legislative election of January 2006, Hamas gained a large majority of seats in the Palestinian Parliament, defeating the ruling Fatah party. After the elections, conflicts arose between Hamas and Fatah, which they were unable to resolve.[8][9][10] In June 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah in a series of violent clashes, and since that time Hamas has governed the Gaza portion of the Palestinian Territories, while at the same time they were ousted from government positions in the West Bank.[11][12] Israel and Egypt then imposed an economic blockade on Gaza and largely sealed their borders with the territory.[13][14]
After acquiring control of Gaza, Hamas-affiliated and other militias launched rocket attacks upon Israel, which Hamas ceased in June 2008 following an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.[15] The ceasefire broke down late in 2008, with each side accusing the other of responsibility.[16] In late December 2008, Israel attacked Gaza,[17] withdrawing its forces in mid-January 2009.[18]
- ^ a b "Hamas leader condemns Islamist charity blacklist". Reuters. 23 August 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
- ^ "The New Hamas: Between Resistance and Participation." Middle East Report. Graham Usher, August 21, 2005
- ^ Islamic fundamentalism in the West Bank and Gaza: Muslim Brotherhood and Islamic Jihad, by Ziyād Abū ʻAmr, Indiana University Press, 194, p.66-72
- ^ "CFR.org". CFR.org. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
- ^ a b c Anti-semitic motifs in the ideology of Hizballah and Hamas, Esther Webman, Project for the Study of Anti-Semitism, 1994. ISBN 978-965-222-592-4
- ^ Hider, James (12 October 2007). "Islamist leader hints at Hamas pull-out from Gaza". The Times Online. London. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
- ^ Sela, Avraham. "Hamas." The Continuum Political Encyclopedia of the Middle East. Ed. Sela. New York: Continuum, 2002. pp. 335–342.
- ^ "The Gangs of Gaza" Archived 2010-07-08 at the Wayback Machine, Newsweek, June 26, 2006.
- ^ al-Mughrabi, Nidal and Assadi, Mohammed. Palestinian in-fighting provokes despair, frustration Archived 2008-12-07 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters, October 3, 2006.
- ^ "The Palestinian National Unity Government". 24 February 2007. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
- ^ "Who are Hamas?". London: BBC News. 26 January 2006. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
- ^ Exposing the bitter truth of Gaza carnage Archived 2009-01-13 at the Wayback Machine The Age, June 23, 2007
- ^ "Gaza faces economic disaster if blockade continues, U.N. official warns" International Herald Tribune
- ^ Dion Nissenbaum. "Olmert aide supports free Gaza" Archived 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. McClatchy Newspapers. December 8, 2008.
- ^ "The Six Months of the Lull Arrangement pdf" (PDF). Tel Aviv Terrorism Information Center. December 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
- ^ Qassam lands in western Negev, no injuries Archived 2011-01-06 at the Wayback Machine Ynet News November 20, 2008
- ^ Lefkovits, Etgar (19 January 2009). "Pool of 8 foreign journalists allowed into Gaza". Archived from the original on 13 August 2011.
- ^ "Israel withdraws its troops from Gaza" Archived 2011-05-10 at the Wayback Machine Times Online