The Islamic Resistance Movement: Hamas

The Islamic Resistance Movement or better recognized by its Arabic acronym “Hamas” is well known for its terrorist attacks on the country of Israel. Hamas is the largest of several anti-Israel Palestinian Islamist militant groups. Hamas grew under a Muslim movement in the 1920s and continued to grow until they became registered as on official terrorist organization in 1978. They claim their main goal is the “social welfare agency that catered especially to the Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip and, over time, developed a good reputation for improving the lives of Palestinians” (Jewishvirtuallibrary.org). In August of 1988 Hamas published their Islamic Covenant which made clear that they are opposed to Israel’s existence in any way. They

say that, “Muslims should raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine" (Jewishvirtuallibrary.org). They call for the creation of an Islamic state in Palestine to replace Israel.
Hamas typically operate in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Their main goal is to wipe the country of Israel and the Jewish people off the map. They have occupied the Gaza Strip since the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) pulled out in 2005. The IDF have tried 3 times to go back into the Gaza Strip and destroy Hamas but without avail. The first invasion by the IDF was in June 2006 after Hamas attacked an Israeli military post and kidnapped an Israeli soldier named Gilad Shalit. “Operation Summer Rains” was counted as a failed mission because they did not achieve any of their major goals: Hamas was not destroyed and Shalit was not rescued. The second invasion was in December 2008. The rocket fire from Hamas had become so frequent that the Israeli government could no longer ignore it. “Operation Cast Lead” tasked the IDF with destroying the rockets and rescuing Shalit. The IDF killed over 1,000 Hamas militants and dismantled many rocket stations but they still withdrew in January 2009 without recapturing Shalit. Finally, in July 2014 “Operation Protective Edge” fell in to effect and the IDF fought to destroy Hama’s terror capabilities. They focused on destroying all the tunnels Hamas had dug to invade Israel, to stop the rocket fire coming from the Gaza Strip and lastly to “bring to justice the individuals responsible for the abduction and murder of three Israeli teens” (Jewishvirtuallibrary.org). On August 26, 2014 Hamas and Israel came to a ceasefire and temporarily ended

hostilities between the two.
Hamas stresses the use of jihad (holy war) as the best and most efficient way to solve their problem with Israel in Palestine. Hamas spokesperson Mahmoud Al-Zahar stated that “we don't want to establish an Islamic emirate in Gaza; we want an Islamic state in all Palestine” (Jewishvirtuallibrary.org). They use a variety of weapons and tactics in their assault on Israel. They fire rockets at Israeli communities to kill and injure civilians, they shoot at civilians on the roadways and place IEDs to take out cars and tanks. The most commonly known method they use are suicide bombings. “However, since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, the Brigades have "transformed from an underground guerrilla organization into a uniformed military force designed to protect Gaza from outside attack” (Jones). When the Israeli forces pulled out in 2005 their plan was to hopefully appease Hamas and that they would stop their rocket attacks, but their plan miserably failed. Hama’s rockets continued to fall on Israel.
Hamas are well known for their terrorist attacks. “By violating the agreed-to ceasefires, Hamas showed that they have no regard for the Palestinian citizens . . . they deliberately put their citizens in danger in order to gain international sympathy for the Palestinian people when Israel is forced to retaliate” (Jewishvirtuallibrary.org). Hamas is responsible for well over 1,000s of terror attacks against Israel. The most recent being on October 9, 2016. Three were killed and 4 were injured including police officers as well as civilians. An armed assailant opened fire on civilians at a train station in Jerusalem. (Start.umd.edu.) The first attack on record was on September 20, 1989 when a bombing took place in the Qrryat Shemona Settlement. None were killed, and none were injured. Only some buildings and property were damaged. Hundreds upon hundreds of attacks have happened since then. Hamas favorite targets seem to be private citizens and their property. They love to launch rockets at Israel’s cities to try to injure and kill as many civilians as possible.
Hamas is a well-funded terrorist organization.

“Hamas has an annual budget of $70 million, according to the Council on Foreign Relations” (Jones). Even after the vast number of sanctions leveled on them by the U.S. and other nations, they remain a very dangerous organization. Iran itself is a big backer if Hamas. According to Jewishvirtuallibrary.org, “[Iran is] the largest backer financially and militarily of the organization’s military wing.” Relations are described between the two counties as “strong and warm” (Jewishvirtuallibrary.org). “The group also raises funds in the Gulf countries and receives donations from Palestinian expatriates around the world” (Pike). Hamas hit a major bump in the road with Iran when they did not support the Assad regime in the Syrian civil war. Iran froze their funds that were directed towards Hamas. However, now Iran is starting to send money and supplies back their way again. Hamas also receives a lot of help from Syria. Pike said, “The Syrian Government enables the Hamas leadership . . . to conduct their various activities on its soil, including the formulation of the Hamas operational strategy, the training of terrorist operatives, the funding of terrorist activity against Israel and assistance in the purchase of arms and ammunition. through its charities.” In the long run Hamas is not going away any time soon. Hamas will remain a threat to Israel if they still even exist in any shape or form. Israel and Hamas continue to hold their

shaky ceasefire, but recent reports show Hamas is starting to build up resources such as bunkers, building materials, and weapons on the border between themselves and Israel. Only time will tell what will happen between these two militaristic entities.