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Hamas: How Israel created its own nemesis w/Paola Caridi | The Chris Hedges Report

The Real News Network・2 minutes read

Hamas is not just a terrorist group but a religious, nationalist, political movement that emerged due to the failures of the PLO, garnering popular support among Palestinians through resistance against Israeli attacks and emphasizing refugee issues and the right of return, leading to a split with Fatah and a tragic era of terrorism before a shift towards participation in democratic processes and a changing political landscape. The conflict in Israel, marked by Hamas' attack for hostages exchange, is fueling anti-Israeli sentiment, with a lack of global awareness of the dire situation in Gaza underscoring the severity of the humanitarian and political crisis in the region.

Insights

  • Hamas is not just a terrorist organization but also a religious, nationalist, and political movement that arose from the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood, distinct from jihadist groups, and rooted in Gaza.
  • The split between the West Bank and Gaza since 2007, exacerbated by Israel's actions and Bibi Netanyahu's views, has hindered the formation of a State of Palestine, fueling anti-Israeli sentiment among Palestinians and the Arab street, leading to tragic consequences and a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

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Recent questions

  • What is Hamas?

    A resistance group with religious, nationalist, political motives.

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Summary

00:00

Hamas: Misunderstood Resistance Group in Palestine

  • Hamas, a resistance group, is often demonized and misunderstood, not being solely a terrorist organization but a religious, nationalist, political movement that has used terrorism as a tactic.
  • The group has garnered popular support among Palestinians due to the failures of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and its resistance against Israeli attacks.
  • Hamas originated from the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood, a social-religious organization deeply rooted in Gaza and other Palestinian territories.
  • The Muslim Brotherhood, founded almost a century ago in Egypt, evolved into a pragmatic, reformist Islamist movement distinct from jihadist or Salafi groups.
  • Hamas emerged in response to the PLO's crisis and its recognition of Israel, opposing the neglect of refugee issues and the right of return.
  • The First Intifada marked the birth of Hamas, which opposed the PLO's credibility collapse post-Oslo Agreement and its failure to create a separate state.
  • Hamas resorted to terrorism in 1994 after the Hebron massacre by Baruch Goldstein, leading to a tragic era of suicide attacks until a 2005 agreement suspended such actions.
  • The group participated in the 2006 Palestinian elections, supported by the international community and even Israel, without being required to recognize Israel beforehand.
  • The elections were deemed free and fair, showcasing Hamas' participation and indirect recognition of the Palestinian Authority.
  • The elections highlighted the international community's support for the democratic process in Palestine and Hamas' role in the political landscape.

23:36

Hamas Victory Alters Palestinian Political Landscape

  • Hamas underwent a significant internal change, with the majority of activists and people voting for it.
  • Unexpectedly, Hamas won the elections, surprising the international community, Israel, and even Hamas itself.
  • This victory led to a change in attitudes among Hamas, Fatah, and the international community.
  • The international community and Israel imposed an embargo on the Hamas-led government.
  • A split occurred in the Palestinian political arena, resulting in a coup by Hamas in Gaza in June 2007.
  • Israel sealed off Gaza and detached it from the Palestinian Occupied Territory.
  • The division between the West Bank and Gaza since 2007 has hindered the idea of a State of Palestine.
  • Bibi Netanyahu viewed this split as advantageous in preventing a Palestinian state.
  • Israel's repression against Hamas, especially after 1989, led to a tragic era of assassinations and extrajudicial killings.
  • The goal of the October 7 attack by Hamas was to take hostages for exchange with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, emphasizing the core issues of Jerusalem and the West Bank.

48:33

"Israel-Palestine Conflict Fuels Radicalization and Crisis"

  • The escalating conflict in Israel is fueling anti-Israeli sentiment among Palestinians and the Arab street, traumatizing a new generation. The story of Rantisi, a nine-year-old in 1956, witnessing Israeli forces executing men and boys in Khan Yunis, highlights the radicalization caused by such events. The lack of global awareness, especially in the US, Europe, and Italy, of the dire situation in Gaza, where people lack basic necessities like food and sanitary products, underscores the severity of the humanitarian and political crisis in the region.
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