Hamas And Israel A History Of Violence
By Philip Whiteside, international news reporter
In the last decade or so, Israeli forces have launched a series of major military operations against the Gaza strip.
Most of the strikes have targeted sites the Israelis identify as belonging to figures in Hamas.
Hundreds of Palestinians have died in those conflicts and skirmishes.
A look at Hamas and its history of conflict with Israel.
Image: Hamas leader Ismail Haniya What is Hamas?
Hamas is the political organisation, led by Ismail Haniya, that administers the Gaza Strip.
Its name is an acronym of an Arabic phrase that translates as Islamic Resistance Movement.
Hamas or its military wing, the Al Qassam brigades, are designated terrorists by at least 10 countries around the world.
Others, however, see it as the legitimate administration in the territory.
Israel bombs targets across Gaza Strip
Why does Israel hate it?
Israel has a long history of enmity with Hamas.
It has gone to war in Gaza three times and has carried out numerous other operations because of its activities.
Israel accuses Hamas of being involved in launching thousands of rockets against Israel and Israeli occupied territory – attacks that have killed and maimed hundreds.
One of the latest resulted in the wounding of six members of a British-Israeli family.
Israel also accuses Hamas of organising protests that threaten its borders. Hamas has called for Palestinians who were forced to become refugees during Israel’s wars to be allowed back to what the group says are their homelands.
Hamas rarely comments on its activities but in December Ismail Haniya praised those who refuse to accept “humiliation” at the hands of Israel.
Image: Jewish rescuers search for victims among rubble in Jerusalem during the 1948 war What were the beginnings of the conflict?
Hamas, like many groups in the Middle East, remains resentful of the creation of Israel after the Second World War, something promoted largely by Western powers.
In the decades that followed, Israel fought several wars and ended up occupying the West Bank and Gaza – territory the UN had not in 1947 designated it should possess.
Hamas and other Palestinian groups believe that territory was effectively stolen from the rightful owners and occupiers – the Palestinian people.
Image: Israeli soldiers shoot at stone-throwing Palestinian teenagers in Gaza in October 2000 When did they become enemies?
Hamas was formed in 1987 as the first intifada (uprising) got under way.
At the time, many Palestinians were angry at what they felt was provocation by Israeli politicians and repression by the security services, and rebelled violently.
Hamas wasn’t the only group rising up – protesters also came from the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and other groups.
The first uprising came to an end with the Oslo Accords, which spelled out the framework for Palestinian self-governance in the West Bank and Gaza.
A second intifada followed in 2000, during which Hamas militants were accused of carrying out suicide attacks and bombings against Israeli and foreign civilians. Israeli security forces were also accused of rights abuses.
Image: Hamas militants take a rest during clashes with Fatah in August 2008 How did Hamas end up in power in Gaza?
After the Oslo Accords, Hamas boycotted the political process until 2005, when it took part in local and legislative elections.
At the time, the Palestinian Territories were being run by President Mahmoud Abbas, and his Fatah party – which had emerged out of the PLO.
In 2006, Hamas won more seats on the Legislative Council than Fatah, upsetting those previously in power and members of the international community who had hoped to continue working with Fatah.
A battle broke out, killing hundreds, and Hamas seized power in Gaza. Fatah retained control in the West Bank.
The takeover caused Egypt and Israel to close their land borders and begin a blockade. Hamas’s retaliation led to the first Gaza-Israel war in 2008.
Image: Hamas supporters burn an Israeli flag during a demonstration in Gaza in 2009 What does Hamas want?
After its foundation, a charter was drawn up which declares that Palestine was endowed to Muslims by God and requires all Muslims to undertake jihad (holy war) on enemies who “usurp” some Islamic lands.
Effectively, Hamas wanted to bring about the end of Israel and the restitution of Palestine.
Initially, the group flatly rejected a two-state solution – one that involves Israel and the Palestinian people living side by side with mutual recognition.
However, in 2017, it was reported the charter had been reworked, with Hamas accepting that a Palestinian state would fall within borders that existed before Israel’s Six-Day War in 1967.
The group also appeared to remove elements which had been criticised as antisemitic.
Opponents have claimed the changes are cynical moves to appear more acceptable to the international community.
Image: Qassam rockets are launched from Hamas-controlled Gaza in January 2009 Claims of human rights violations
Hamas has been accused of multiple human rights violations in Gaza, including summary executions, abduction and torture.
During a recent peaceful protest against the high cost of living, which has been making life difficult for ordinary Palestinians, Hamas was accused of waging a brutal crackdown.
It has also allegedly targeted journalists who expose rampant corruption in the tiny country with no political opposition.
Various media and NGOs have provided evidence of Hamas firing their rockets or sheltering in densely populated areas – effectively using the inhabitants as human shields.
The situation in Gaza has also helped destabilise neighbouring countries like Egypt, where militants have taken advantage of the failed state on the border to gain a foothold in Sinai.