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The role of Hamas in shaping the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The following literature review example discusses the role of Hamas, since its establishment in 1987, as one of the most important actors in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This academic paper reviews some of the key scholarship that has appeared on the group's rise to power since 2006, its violent split from Fatah, and its continued military resistance to Israeli occupation. The dissertation writer discusses key variables in the literature review regarding the blockade of Gaza and its resulting humanitarian effects, the international isolation of Hamas, and its sustaining regional alliances with Qatar and Iran. The literature review example, finally, demonstrates just how the dual nature of Hamas complicates any moves toward peace in the region.

November 5, 2024

* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.

The Role of Hamas in Shaping the Dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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The Role of Hamas in Shaping the Dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Formed in 1987 during the First Intifada, Hamas has played a crucial role in shaping the

dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The very nature of Hamas as both a militant

organization and a political movement defines the influence it has had on this conflict. The

scholars have approached the study of Hamas from every possible angle, producing varied

literature on Hamas's political, social, and military activities, and the far-reaching implications

these have on the broader conflict (Filiu, 2012). This literature review will critically assess the

major historiographical debates on Hamas as a government and militant organization, the internal

split it has caused within Palestine, the effects it has been able to produce with Israel, and what

other international responses have been towards its rise.

The rise of Hamas to political power, particularly in the aftermath of its 2006 electoral

success, marked a new era in Palestinian politics. Historians such as Matthew Lawson, in his

2010 study, present the argument that the political ascendancy of Hamas was symbolic of not

only negating the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority but also of an ideological shift toward Islamist

rule (Lawson, 2010). Lawson clarified that Hamas took advantage of the total failure of the PA in

making good on its promises of achieving results through negotiations with Israel. It presented

itself as an actual alternative force because it could merge nationalism with Islamic values. This

rise to power, on the other hand, caused a violent confrontation between Hamas and Fatah,

culminating in the seizure of Gaza by Hamas in 2007. As Qarmout (2024) indicates, this

intra-Palestinian war has highly fragmented Palestinian leadership into two parallel governments

in Gaza and the West Bank. According to Qarmout, this division weakened the negotiating

position of Palestinians in peace talks, since the absence of a unified front complicated any

attempt toward comprehensive peace. Furthermore, Hamas has obviously positioned itself as an

obstacle to any peaceful solution by refusing to recognize the Oslo Accords and further refusing

recognition of Israel's right to exist.

More importantly, the other most essential characteristic of Hamas is that of being a

militant organization. In fact, historians view it as an organization whose use of violence can be

both defensive and offensive and the influential extent to which such use has had on the current

conflict. For example, Hussein, (2021) relies on the fact that the military wing of Hamas, Izz

ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has been the most active in resisting Israeli occupation through

rocket attacks, suicide bombers, and tunnel fighting. In this respect, Hussein says that such

militaristic operations have contributed a great deal to the course taken in formulating Israeli

defense policies, especially with regard to the construction of the blockade in Gaza, as it started

to restrict Hamas from building up their military capabilities further. This blockade has been

debated among researchers. For Longobardo (2021), the Israeli blockade of Gaza was

indispensable by nature, in a perspective to forbid the smuggling of arms and, hence, to ensure

that Hamas has been substantially weakened militarily. In this regard, other critics have also

argued, for instance, Farhat et al. (2023), that it led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in

Gaza, exacerbating poverty among its population while completely isolating its civilians.

According to the same study, the blockade has devastated the population with increased

unemployment and poverty, and a large dependency on international humanitarian assistance for

survival.

The presence of Hamas in Gaza and the influence that happens over the

Israeli-Palestinian conflict has dramatically shifted the dynamics in international diplomacy.

According to Aljamal (2014), the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organization by Israel, the

United States, and the European Union creates problems in its international functioning. He

points out that due to Hamas's refusal to recognize Israel and also to renounce violence, it stands

in complete opposition to what the international community has laid out as terms for peace at a

minimum set out by the Middle East Quartet in its "Road Map for Peace". In somewhat of a

contrast, Mounier (2023) underlines the layer of legitimacy provided to Hamas by other regional

actors both financially and politically, such as Qatar and Iran. This has brought new layers of

complexity to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as these regional powers often oppose the

Western-sponsored peace initiatives. Mounier argues that these relationships with these countries

have allowed Hamas to maintain its military activities and political influence but at the cost of

deeper international isolation and increased tensions with neighboring Arab states.

Conclusion

What can be inferred from this review, nonetheless, is that Hamas holds an essential place

in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, which is a by-and-large militant and political entity with great

influence within Palestinian society and regional dynamics. Indeed, the academic literature richly

reflects many ways Hamas has been able to have an influence, from a split with Fatah in

Palestine and on into its own impact upon Israeli security policies, from international diplomacy

down to contributions it has made toward the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Some scholars

continue to perceive Hamas above all as an impediment to peace because of its militancy and

refusal to negotiate, while for others this is the organization that plays an important role in the

sphere of social welfare and as a representative of Palestinian resistance. The ultimate reality is

that this dual role of Hamas complicates any effort at a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,

for its governance of Gaza and military strategies continue to shape the internal dynamics of

Palestinian politics and the broader regional and international responses. Understanding Hamas's

complicated role is essential to a full analysis of the conflict's evolution in the 21st century.

References

Aljamal, Y. M. (2014). Hamas: A Terrorist Organization Or Liberation Movement? Politics and

Religion Journal, 8(1), 39-58.

Farhat, T., Ibrahim, S., & Abdul-Sater, Z. (2023). Responding to the Humanitarian Crisis in

Gaza: Damned if You Do… Damned if You don't! Annals of Global Health, 89(1), 53-63.

Filiu, J.-P. (2012). The Origins of Hamas: Militant Legacy or Israeli Tool? Journal of Palestine

Studies, 41(3), 54-70.

Hussein, A. Q. (2021). The Evolution of the Military Action of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam

Brigades: How Hamas Established its Army in Gaza. Al-Muntaqa: New Perspectives on

Arab Studies, 4(1), 78-97.

Lawson, M. (2010). Religion and Resistance: The Role of Islamic Doctrine in Hamas and

Hezbollah. University of South Florida.

Longobardo, M. (2021). The Legality of Closure on Land and Safe Passage Between the Gaza

Strip and the West Bank. Journal of International Law, 11(1), 50-88.

Mounier, J.-L. (2023, October 16). Qatar, Iran, Turkey, and beyond: Hamas's network of allies.

Retrieved from France24:

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20231014-qatar-iran-turkey-and-beyond-the-g

alaxy-of-hamas-supporters

Qarmout, T. (2024). Predictable in Their Failure: An Analysis of Mediation Efforts to End the

Palestinian Split. International Peacekeeping, 31(3), 283-308.

November 5, 2024

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Academic level:

Graduate

Type of paper:

Literature review

Discipline:

History

Citation:

Chicago

Pages:

3 (825 words)