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