Hamas - The Islamic Resistance Movement



Hamas - The Islamic Resistance Movement

Introduction

Hamas is an abbreviation in the Arabic language for “The Islamic Resistance Movement”. The word “Hamas” literally means “Zeal” and this word clearly describes the people who lead this group. Hamas is much conversed as an organization, but its comprehension is very poor among the people.

Hamas is no longer an edging performer in the Palestinian political scene. However, it gained a remarkable triumph in the elections of Legislative Council of Palestine in early 2006. Hamas has developed an appeal among the Palestinians for numerous reasons. The foremost is that Hamas is the victor of suicide bombing against the Israelis.

Second is that Hamas is not crooked in the sea of sleaze that has so differentiated the Palestinian Authority. Hamas also provides various services like the after school programs, clinics and food distribution centers which the Palestinian Authority fails to provide. Hamas has established in the views of Palestinians that it can attack the Israelis when they will attack them (Levitt, 2006, pp. ix).

Hamas is an acronym for “Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya”. Hamas has created a violent campaign that is intended at its own Palestinian rivals chiefly Fatah and Israel. Hamas is at present limiting its military actions and that of the other groups of Palestine in the Gaza Strip (Anon, 2011).

Discussion

History

In the mid of December 1987, the first Palestinian uprising (intifada) exploded. In the Gaza Strip, a group of the leaders of Muslim Brotherhood met in the residence of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. At his residence, the leaders created The Islamic Resistance Movement i.e. “Harakat al Muqawama al Islamiyya”.

The movement is well recognized by its Arabic acronym “Hamas” i.e. zeal. The group is a framework for the symbol of the Muslim Brotherhood in the actions of the intifada (Scham & Abu-Irshaid, 2009, pp. 4). On 14th December 1987, The Islamic Resistance Movement issued its first message (See Appendix No. 1).

The origins of Hamas are with the Muslim Brotherhood movement, a branch of the Palestine. This movement is referred to as Brethren or Ikhwan which dates back to the 1940s, and the parent branch of Egypt which dates back to the 1928. The late emergence of Hamas was evolved from the antagonism of Israel to Palestine, and the essentially inactive policies of the Muslim Brotherhood headed for both Jordan and Egypt.

Various scholars described that Hamas was emerged from an old organization known as the “Mujama Islami” that was established by the Shaykh Ahmed Yasin (Zuhur, 2008, pp. 20-21).

Ideology and Motivation

The rise of Hamas to power was an incredible rage to the predictions for harmony and peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. In addition to this, this violent record of Hamas as a terrorist group or organization, Hamas holds a fundamental Islamist ideology.

This ideology unequivocally and openly calls for the assassination of the Jews, substituting Israel with a drastic theocracy of Islam and destroying the State of Israel. The base of this ideology is on the foundation and groundwork of unconcealed and barefaced ...