Hamas provides some basic services in Gaza but also engages in terrorist attacks against Israel and supports an Islamist government. It receives funding from private donors in Gulf states and uses violence to pursue its goals of destroying Israel and establishing an Islamic Palestinian state.

1. Crisis in the Middle East - Hamas
COL JANOS TOMOLYA PhD

2. The root of the problem:
Israel – Palestine conflict

3. Motto

6.  Arabic acronym for “The Islamic
Resistance Movement”
 Grew out of the Muslim Brotherhood
 Created in 1987 by Shaikh Ahmed Yassin
 Headquarters in Gaza City, Palestine
Hamas Background

7. The Slogan of Hamas
“God is it’s target, the Prophet is it’s model, the
Qur’an it’s constitution: Jihad is it’s path and death
for the sake of God is the loftiest of it’s wishes.”

8. Symbols of Hamas
There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Shahada, "the testimony"

9. Logo of Hamas
an outline of the territory of Israel
Muslim shrine the Dome of the
Rock in Jerusalem
banners bearing the phrases
“There is no god but Allah” and
“Muhammad is the messenger of
Allah.
“Palestine”
“Islamic Resistance Movement—Hamas.”

10. Who are Hamas?
• Largest and most
influential Palestinian
militant movement
• Started out sponsoring
extensive social services
• Separated into two
branches
– the social welfare and
political wings
– the military wing
• Later would be known
for suicide bombings
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades:
approx 10 000 operatives

11. Goals
• Hamas combines Palestinian nationalism with
Islamic fundamentalism
• Destruction of Israel
• Replacement of Palestinian Authority and Israel
with an Islamic state
• Strive to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of
Palestine

12. Creation of Hamas
• Founded in 1987 (soon after the First Intifada broke
out)
• an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood
• Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi and
Mahmoud Zahar "Lion of Palestine"

13. Hamas Covenant (Charter) 1988

15. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin
• Born on January 1, 1929
in Jura, Palestine
• Founder of Hamas
• Sentenced to life in
prison, released after 1
year
• Assassinated on March
22, 2004 by Israeli
gunship helicopter
“We chose this road, and
will end with
martyrdom or victory”

16. Abdel Aziz Rantisi
• One of the founders of
Hamas
• Doctor and lecturer at
Islamic University
• Took leadership after
Yassin’s death
• Assassinated on April
17, 2004
“Violent resistance is the
only option for the
restoration of our stolen
rights”

17. Mahmoud Zahar
• Born in 1945 to a Palestinian
father and an Egyptian Mother
• Yassin’s personal physician
• Senior official and
spokesperson
• Secretly assigned to leadership
after Rantisi’s assassination

18. Khaled Mashal
• Born in Silwad, Ramallah
• Physics teacher
• Current leader of Hamas
• Chairman of the Hamas
Political Bureau
• Represents Hamas
Internationally
• Doha, Qatar “Our nation is moving
forward, and it is in
your interest to respect
a victorious nation”

19. Luxury life

20. Ismail Haniyah
• Born January 1963
• Degree in Arabic Literature
• Won the Palestinian
legislative election of January
2006
• Sworn in as Prime Minister of
Hamas Government in Gaza
• Dead in 2014

21. Ismail Haniyah:
3,1 billion USD
Khaled Mashal:
2,7 billion USD
Corruption

22. Fathi Hammad

23. Political Ideology
• Islamism
• Nationalism
• Religious
Conservatism
• Right Wing

24. Islamization of the Gaza Strip

25. Primary Targets
• Israelis in Palestine
• Jews
• Fatah
• Westeners
• Anyone opposed to the
Islamic Movement

26. Attacks
• Hamas is believed to have
killed more than 500 people
in more than 350 separate
terrorist attacks since 1993
• Most of the killings were
done by suicide bombers
• Also use mortars, short-
range rockets, and small
arms fire

27. Suicide Attacks
• Recruits do not fit the
usual psychological
profile of suicidal people
• Usually paid $3,000-
$5,000
• Recruits undergo intense
religious indoctrination
• The average bombing
costs about $150

28. Hamas Finances
• Palestinian expatriates and private donors in Saudi
Arabia and other oil-rich Persian Gulf states.
• Muslim Charities around the world
• Iran also was providing significant support
• Currently Qatar the main donor

29. Recent Activity
• 350 separate terrorist attacks since 1993
• Wars against Israel
• January 15, 2004 – female suicide bomber
• May 14, 2004 – double suicide bombers
• Boycotted 2005 elections
• Participated and win in 2006
elections

30. Knife attacks
12 Israeli and
77 Palestine killed

32. 2006: 54% of parliament seats, 2007:
pouch in Gaza

33. Practically too Palestine government
Hamas-lead
government in
Gaza
Fatah-lead
Palestine Authority
NO phisical
connection !!!!

34. Juctice

35. Protection of life

36. Providing electricity
Own power
plant 30%
Israel
62%
Egypt
8%
Sources of electric power
• Own power plant: 65 MW (financed by EU) more than 5
years is working on 50% of his capacity because of
transformer problem

37. Petrol
• Only 1 border crossing point is working;
• 100 000 l/day smuggled into GAZA
• Government supported cheap Egyptian prices:
– 2013: 1 l gasolinee – 0,45 USD in Gaza: 1,75 USD
• 20% of Profit acquired by Hamas because of tax
• Egypt destroyed more than 1400 tunnels
• Lack of gasoline

38. Other services
• Not enough of schools, habitation, medical center
• There is not wastewater treatment, 30% of
apartments are not connected to the system

39. Education á
la Hamas

40. Questions?