The gunmen soon Hamas He launched the most devastating attack on Israel in its 75-year history, leaving almost a thousand people behind. civilians were brutally murdered and hundreds military and police A video was recorded in which the leader of the political branch of Hamas died, Ismail Haniye, He watches what is happening on television in astonishment and, along with several lieutenants, prostrates himself to thank God for the attack. Haniyeh wasn’t devastated Al Shati refugee camphis birthplace next to the beach Loop After his family was forced to leave a village near Ashkelon during the 1948 war, however, he was staying in a luxury hotel there. Dohacapital city Train. His story is far from extraordinary. and duration Israel Most of Israel’s political leaders, who continue their offensive to “destroy Hamas” in Gaza, neither live nor live in the region.
This has been the case almost from the beginning. HE Islamic Resistance MovementHamas, from which the acronym Hamas is derived, was founded in Gaza in late 1987 during the early stages of the First Intifada. Ambition to liberate all of historic Palestine and hence, destroy israel. It soon split into two branches: the so-called political office And military arm under the command Al Qassam Brigades. “Political leadership is always Outside the occupied Palestinian territories “to have room to manoeuvre,” says the Italian historian and journalist Paola Caridi, author of the book ‘Hamas: Resistance Against the Regime’. In order to raise both Relations with Arab countriesSeek funding and, above all, their leaders liquidated by Israel. “They change countries based on alliances and the context of the moment, and they know not to interfere in the internal affairs of the host country,” Caridi says. A wandering existence similar to that experienced by the PLO at the time Arafat.
They established themselves in 1996 Ammanwhere they stayed until Jordan He accused them of coordinating military activities on their territory. They went from there SamThey remained here for ten years, until 2011. strategic mistake ally with a counter-revolt Assad regime I’m waiting for you to make a way islamic revolution. Syria kicked them out and they left from there. Sweetcorn until the military coup Hand Mist ended his government Muslim BrothersThe same movement that Hamas emerged from. next stop Türkiye and finally Traincurrently its main operating branch.
Operations base in Qatar
The US’s presence in the wealthy Emirate, where it has the largest military force in the region, was initially Supported by Washingtonsee this as an opportunity to protect Communication channels With Palestinian radicals Because even though the US, the EU or Israel have identified Hamas as responsible “terrorist organization”The truth is, there is so much more. Not only this An integral part of Palestinian society And armed resistance against occupation Israel is supported by international law. It is also a political partyIt is the power that has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is the most powerful organization in the world. Israeli prisons And refugee camps of the diaspora.
Haniyeh, head of the political bureau, lives in Qatar talksWhether it’s a ceasefire or a prisoner exchange. Moreover Khaled Meshaal, one of his predecessors in office. The second most important role for political leadership LebanonWhere there are leaders like Osama HamdanResponsible for relations with the Islamic world or Musa Abu Marzoukwho led the last visit of the Islamists Moscow. “Their presence in Lebanon is explained by the protection it provides them HezbollahBut it is also due to Hamas’ strong presence in refugee camps in the country,” Caridi says.
Military leaders in Gaza
All of this complicates Israel’s clear mission to topple Hamas. Although for obvious reasons their priority is not politicians (often more pragmatic), but rather armed wing and figures playing a role intermediaries between both worlds. The worlds touch each other enough that, according to various sources, the political leadership has no authority over the military. “The army is fully functioning autonomous, reserved for security reasons. Them They decide how and when operations are conducted To prevent them from being discovered by Israeli intelligence,” says the Italian expert. This explains why some Hamas politicians openly disbelieved when they saw hundreds of militia men. They broke the Gaza blockade Sneaking into southern Israel.
The daily lives of paramilitary forces are decided. General Military CouncilAccording to popular belief, it is governed by Muhammad DeifThe following was also taken into account: Architect of the great attack On October 7. Deif is a shadow and legendary among many Palestinians. He has no public photographs and rarely speaks. “This is the day of the greatest war that will end the world. final occupation of land“Deif said the following in an audio recording on that fateful day. If I were a lieutenant I would Mervan IsaAlthough the structure of the Al Qassam Brigades is largely a secret.
What is as important as these two for Israel is Yahya Sinvar, He is considered the leader of Hamas in Gaza. He was released in 2011 after spending many years in Israeli prisons. Gilad ShalitA package that includes more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners, not just from militants and Hamas. “Sinwar has gained great power in Gaza in the last decade and nowacts as an intermediary Between the political branch and the army he came from,” says Caridi. So far, Israel has not managed to eliminate any of the main problems. Medals from operations in GazaEven though he killed his intermediate staff, such as those in charge of the military branch air and sea operations or that Anti-Tank Rocket Division, According to military spokesmen.