On 7 October 2023, the Israel-Palestine conflict reached a pivotal moment as Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel. In the aftermath, global attention turned to Hamas: its origins, its military strength, and its financial backers. But a question often left unspoken iswho made Hamas? Was it solely the result of Palestinian resistance, or was its rise facilitated by miscalculations from Israel and the United States?
The Birth of Hamas
Gaza’s modern political landscape has been shaped by decades of occupation and shifting power dynamics. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Gaza remained under Egyptian control until the Six-Day War in 1967, after which Israel took control. Under Israeli occupation, Gaza experienced social and economic struggles, further exacerbated by the expansion of Israeli settlements. Even after Israel withdrew its settlers in 2005, it maintained a blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized power in 2007.
HamasHarakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyyaemerged in 1987 during the First Intifada, an uprising against Israeli occupation. It was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, positioning itself as an Islamist alternative to the secular Palestinian factions, primarily Fatah and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). While Hamas’s 1988 charter called for Israel’s destruction, the group later signalled a shift in 2017, expressing a willingness to accept a Palestinian state within pre-1967 borderswithout formally recognising Israel.
Did Israel Help Hamas Rise?
In the 1970s and 1980s, Israel’s primary adversary in the occupied territories was not Hamasit was the PLO. The PLO was secular, nationalist, and committed to armed struggle against Israel. To counterbalance the PLO, Israeli authorities allowed Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, to operate freely in Gaza. This divide-and-rule strategy was seen as a way to fragment Palestinian nationalism.
The Israeli government even licensed Mujama al-Islamiya, the predecessor to Hamas, as a charity group. While the PLO waged armed resistance, the Brotherhood focused on social services, building mosques, running charities, and setting up schools. This was viewed as a preferable alternative to a unified nationalist movement.
Some reports suggest Israeli authorities overlooked or even tolerated violence by Islamists against leftist Palestinian factions aligned with the PLO. However, when the First Intifada erupted in 1987, Hamas took a more aggressive stance. By the time Israel realised that it had fostered a formidable adversary, Hamas had already evolved into a powerful militant organisation.
U.S. Policy and the Strengthening of Hamas
By the 1990s, Hamas had become a formidable force, opposing the Oslo Accords and launching a wave of suicide bombings. The United States designated Hamas a terrorist organisation in 1997, severing direct engagement. However, American policies in the following years may have inadvertently strengthened the group.
After the Second Intifada (20002005), the Bush administration pushed for Palestinian elections, hoping to install a democratic government in Gaza. However, in 2006, Hamas won a landslide victory, defeating the U.S.-backed Fatah party. Shocked by the outcome, Washington refused to engage with the Hamas-led government. Instead of supporting a political resolution, the U.S. backed a Fatah-led coup attempt. Hamas retaliated with a violent takeover of Gaza in 2007, cementing its control over the territory.
How Did Hamas Become So Well-Armed?
Hamas started with homemade explosives and small arms but has since evolved into a well-trained paramilitary force. The Qassam Brigades, its military wing, now possesses an arsenal that includes drones, paragliders, and naval commando units.
Iran has been a major supplier of weapons and financial support. Qatar, an ally of the United States, has provided significant funds for Gaza, ostensibly for humanitarian aid, but often benefiting Hamas. Despite the blockade, Hamas has developed extensive smuggling networks, using tunnels through the Sinai Peninsula to acquire weapons.
At times, Israel even tolerated Hamas’s rule, believing that a divided Palestinian leadership weakened the broader nationalist movement. This allowed Hamas to strengthen its grip on Gaza.
Fatah’s Failures and Hamas’s Rise
Hamas’s rise was not solely due to Israeli and U.S. miscalculationsit was also facilitated by the failures of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Corruption, mismanagement, and security cooperation with Israel alienated many Palestinians. In contrast, Hamas positioned itself as a defender of Palestinian dignity, providing social services and engaging in direct resistance against Israel.
The PA’s refusal to hold elections since 2006 has only deepened the rift. President Mahmoud Abbas remains in power without a renewed mandate, while Hamas continues to dominate Gaza. The lack of a legitimate, unified Palestinian leadership has left Hamas as the de facto ruler of Gaza, despite its international isolation.
What Comes Next?
As Israel wages war in Gaza following the 7 October attacks, the question remainswhat happens next? Military operations may weaken Hamas’s infrastructure, but will they eliminate its ideology? The collapse of Hamas’s governance in Gaza could create a power vacuum, potentially leading to the rise of even more radical elements.
Hamas was not simply a product of Palestinian resistance. Its survival was shaped by external forcesboth deliberate and unintended. Israel’s early strategy of fostering Islamist movements to counter the PLO, combined with U.S. policy failures, played a role in Hamas’s ascent.
After decades of conflict, one haunting question remains: did Israel and the U.S. help create the very entity they now seek to destroy?
The future of Hamas is uncertain. The ongoing war has significantly weakened the group, leading to military losses, economic devastation, and dwindling popular support. Some discussions suggest that the PA could regain control of Gaza. However, Hamas remains deeply entrenched, and its political influence will not fade easily.
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