This is a follow up to yesterday’s post, On the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Read my overview and statement on Palestine in that post.

What is Hamas?

Hamas was created in 1987-1988 in affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood and set out a charter in 1988. The group released an updated charter in 2017. Modern-day Hamas is a Muslim political and militant group deemed a terrorist organization by several countries due to its use of suicide bombings, attacks on civilians, taking of hostages, human shielding, and other war crimes. Hamas does not recognize Israel’s statehood, unlike the rival secular Palestinian political party Fatah. Their charters, including the updated 2017 charter, claim to be anti-Zionist but contain explicit anti-Jewish and antisemitic language, sentiments, and goals.

What happened on October 7, 2023?

“Using rockets, paragliders, boats, motorcycles and other vehicles, and whatever other means they could, terrorists infiltrated Israel with one goal—to murder and kidnap Israelis. Over 1,300 Israelis have been killed and close to 12,000 are wounded.” – AJC

“In an interview shortly after October 7, Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas leader, told a Lebanese TV channel: “We will do this again and again.” He said the attack was “just the first time, and there will be a second, a third, a fourth.”” – CNN 

Where do we go from here?

In 2024, it is important to recognize two things: Hamas is a terrorist group guilty of war crimes; and Israel’s government and military are using Hamas to justify genocide. Denunciation of terrorism and denunciation of genocide can coincide, and go hand-in-hand for anyone passionate about human rights.

“It is possible for both sides to violate IHL in the same instance: Hamas by using human shields,  and Israel by launching a disproportionate strike.” – CNN

Sources:

Hamas Covenant 1988, published online by Yale Law School’s The Avalon Project

Middle East Eye (Hamas in 2017: The document in full)

Al Jazeera (What is Hamas? A simple guide to the armed Palestinian group)

Amnesty International (Israel/ OPT: Deal to release hostages and prisoners must pave way for further releases and a sustained ceasefire) and (ICJ hearings over Israel’s alleged breaches of the Genocide Convention a vital step to help protect Palestinian civilians)

CNN (Have war crimes been committed in Israel and Gaza and what laws govern the conflict?)

AJC: (What You Need to Know About the Iran-backed Terror Group Hamas and its Attack on Israel)

Center for Strategic & International Studies (Hamas’s October 7 Attack: Visualizing the Data)