TA-ORGANIZATIONS: Profile of Terrorist Group Hamas

www.rnw.nl..." target='_blank' class='tabOff'/> We hear so often of Suicide Bombings in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The terrorist group Hamas, often claims responsibility for these attacks. But Who and What is Hamas? Take an inside look at one of the most malicious terror organizations in the world.


Hamas is the Palestinians� major Muslim fundamentalist movement. With an extensive social service network and a terrorist wing that plots suicide bombings in Israel, it is the main opposition to Yasir Arafat�s Palestinian Authority, a determined foe of Israeli-Palestinian peace, and a major player in the current Middle East crisis. In Arabic, the word �hamas� means zeal. But it�s also an Arabic acronym for �Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya,� or Islamic Resistance Movement. Many have commonly mistaken Hamas as part of The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which is headed by Arafat, and Islamic Jihad. The PLO is not a fundamentalist group, but the main secular, nationalist organization of Palestinian politics. After the Signing of a peace deal between Israel and The PLO in 1993, Arafat founded the Palestinian Authority (PA), a new, Palestinian-led government for the West Bank and Gaza.

Hamas and the PA sometimes cooperate, sometimes compete, and sometimes clash. Hamas has cut deals with the PA, but it accuses Arafat�s regime of being corrupt and of selling out to Israel and America by participating in the peace process. Islamic Jihad, on the other hand, is a much smaller, less organized group of Islamist radicals with closer ties to Iran. Unlike Hamas, Islamic Jihad has no network of schools, clinics, or mosques, and it focuses entirely on terrorism.

Hamas beliefs combine the ideas of Religious Fundamentalism and Palestinian Nationalism. It�s founding Charter pledges the group to carry out armed struggle, try to destroy Israel and replace Arafat�s government with an Islamist state on the West Bank and Gaza, and raise �the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.� Here are some stand out Quotes:

�Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it."

"The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up. "

"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."

"After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the region they overtook, they will aspire to further expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", and their present conduct is the best proof of what we are saying."

Hamas� main tactical terror is Suicide Bombers. The military wing of Hamas - known as the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades - has carried out a series of bloody attacks against Israeli targets. Among those targeted are public buses, cafes, shopping malls, and other public interests. Hamas has been known to target Israeli civilians, rather than the Israeli Military.

The typical suicide bomber:

Since the signing of the Oslo Agreements in 1993, Palestinian terrorist organizations have sent more than 70 suicide bombers on missions against Israeli targets. Fortunately, not all succeeded in their missions like Hotary. Last month Yediot Aharonot presented a profile of the typical suicide bomber:

47% of the suicide bombers have an academic education and an additional 29% have at least a high school education.

83% of the suicide bombers are single.

64% of the suicide bombers are between the ages 18-23; most of the rest are under 30.

68% of the suicide bombers have come from the Gaza Strip.

According to Islamic Tradition "he who gives his life for an Islamic cause will have his sins forgiven and a place reserved in paradise." According to a poll conducted among Palestinian adults from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank including East Jerusalem at the end of May by Dr. Nabil Kukali and the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), "a substantial majority (76.1%) support suicidal attacks like that of Netanya [in May], whereas 12.5% oppose, and 11.4% express no opinion."(1)






















Thousands Rally for Suicide Bombers (2)

Hamas operates out of the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Arafat and the Palestinian Authority govern the population in most of these areas; most of the land is either partly or mostly controlled by Israel. Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza during the Six Day War in 1967. Since 1993, when Israel and the PLO signed a peace treaty, the major Palestinian cities in the West Bank and Gaza have been turned over to the Arafat-run Palestinian Authority.

Sheik Ahmed Yasin
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Firebrand and spiritual leader of Hamas, Yasin describes himself as a "soldier of Hamas" but disavows any knowledge of any specific attack plans to be undertaken by the militants. In and out of jail on several occasions, Yasin is well known to be more militant than Yassar Arafat and PLO political operatives. Yasin reportedly wields considerable influence over Hamas' overall tactics, according to several counter-terrorist experts.

Sheik Ahmed Yasin is the Political groups founder. He is a cleric from the Gaza Strip who has been confined to a wheelchair since suffering a childhood sports injury. The following is an excerpt from The New York Times

When he speaks of Israel, it is an almost rhythmic recitation of grievances, the voice rising ever higher in controlled fury. "The Israelis are killing our children, our women and our elders. Why are the Israelis killing us? Why are they destroying our homes? Why are they kicking us out to live in the streets? Why is Israel confiscating our land? Why are they arresting hundreds of people without any reason? The Israelis are choking the Palestinian people and preventing them from living. This is slow murder."

Hamas will not abandon its "military operations," Yasin declared, though he indicated the attacks could be called off if such a move was expedient. "If the movement concludes that the atmosphere is ready, then the movement moves," he said. "If not, it stays quiet. If they find that it is in the interest of the Palestinian people to stay quiet, they keep quiet. If they find it is for the benefit of the Palestinian people to strike, we strike."

"We are in one trench against one enemy," Yasin said. "We have not weakened the Authority because we are not fighting the Authority. We do not want the Government. We want this land; we want to remove the occupier from the land. We have different views on how to liberate our land, but this is the only difference between us. We are brothers, in one trench, against one enemy."

The 64-year-old quadriplegic was released from prison in Israel in 1997, as King Hussein of Jordan's price for freeing Israeli Mossad agents after a bungled attempt to assassinate Hamas leader in Jordan, Khaled Meshal. After his release, he devoted his energies to repairing damage to Hamas' educational and charitable institutions inflicted during the 1996 crackdown against the movement.

"The Engineer"- Yahya Ayyash

In light of recent developments in Israel and the Middle-East, much interest has been generated in the "The Engineer". Yahya Ayyash allegedly led the military wing of Hamas and was well known for his proficiency as a "bomb maker". He was killed on Jan 5, 1996 by improvised explosive device contained within his cellular telephone. Israeli security officials have neither confirmed nor denied their involvement in Ayyash's death, but it is known that he was #1 on their most wanted list.

Ramadan Abullah Shalah

Shalah is reported to be the new operational leader of the Islamic Holy War group. Islamic Holy War or Jihad is an off-shoot of Hamas, although they may not be under direct operational control of them. Shalah and his group claimed that it was one of their members that undertook at least one of the recent suicide bus bombings in Jerusalem. Shalah was last reported to be living in Syria.









Mohammed Dief


Dief is believed to have assumed command of the military brigades of Hamas following the death of Ayyash. He reportedly leads from a small house on the Gaza Strip, although he is known to travel frequently to both Lebanon and Syria. Mohammed Deif, who was considered Israel's most wanted man until he was arrested by Palestinian police in May, 2000. Deif is alleged to be the mastermind behind a 1996 Jerusalem bus bombing that killed 26 people as well as other terrorist acts. (3)

Much of Hamas� funding comes from Palestinian expatriates, as well as from private donors in Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Persian Gulf states. Iran also provides significant support, which some diplomats say could amount to between $20-$30 million per year. Moreover, some Muslim charities in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe funnel money into Hamas-backed social service groups. In December 2001, the Bush administration seized the assets of the Holy Land Foundation, the largest Muslim charity in the United States, for allegedly funding Hamas.

Major Source for this Article:
Terrorism Answers

I have taken most of the information from this site. I have found Terrorism Answers to be one of the best sources of information available .

(1)Taken FromIsraeli Insider
(2)Picture Taken From Betwix
(3)Taken FromEmergency.com

Related News
Hamas Founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin Assassinated
























[*Edited from ATS to fit in Terror Analysis]




[Edited on 22-3-2004 by TrickmastertricK]

What an excellent article.

I read that Israel has targeted the top echelon of Hamas and have weakened to severly voe the last few months. The are about to reintroduce assasinations again, today one of the leaders and his wife was killed. (mind you they actually blew themeselves up as opposed to being shot).

I wonder if they really believe the fictional "Protocols of Zion" or if its just an expedient excuse to try and destroy Israel.

This is interesting, very much so:

According to Islamic Tradition "he who gives his life for an Islamic cause will have his sins forgiven and a place reserved in paradise." According to a poll conducted among Palestinian adults from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank including East Jerusalem at the end of May by Dr. Nabil Kukali and the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), "a substantial majority (76.1%) support suicidal attacks like that of Netanya [in May], whereas 12.5% oppose, and 11.4% express no opinion."(1)

I think the above is a mis-interpretation of Islamic Law or is strictly and vehemently in conflict with the Shari'ah/Fiqh.

From:
Understanding Suicide Terrorism

Article:
Genesis and Future of Suicide Terrorism

In Israel-Palestine, suicide terrorism began in 1992, becoming part of a systematic campaign in late 1993 with attacks by Hezbollah trained members of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) aimed at derailing the Oslo Peace Accords. As early as 1988, however, PIJ founder Fathi Shiqaqi established guidelines for �exceptional� martyrdom operations involving human bombs. He followed Hezbollah in stressing that God extols martyrdom but abhors suicide: �Allah may cause to be known those who believe and may make some of you martyrs, and Allah may purify those who believe and may utterly destroy the disbelievers�; however, �no one can die except by Allah�s leave�.[6]

The above link is an exceptional expose' on suicide terrorism.

And this article:
Suicide Bombers-Why do they do it, and what does Islam say about their actions?

The predominant theme in the Qur'an is forgiveness and peace. Allah (God) is Merciful and Forgiving, and seeks that in His followers. Indeed, most people who spend time on a personal level with ordinary Muslims have found them to be peaceful, honest, hard-working, civic-minded people.

In the Palestinian territories, those who support suicide bombing claim that it is merely a tactic of war in defense of their land and homes. Living under siege, and without the superior weaponry of their opponent, they see it as a heroic act of martyrdom, not suicide. In Israel, these attacks have usually been perpetrated by young men (and less often, women) who have lived their entire lives under humiliating occupation. In their point of view, it is a final act of resistance, stemming from desperation.

In Islam, several things are clear:

Suicide is forbidden. "O ye who believe!... [do not] kill yourselves, for truly Allah has been to you Most Merciful. If any do that in rancour and injustice, soon shall We cast him into the Fire..." (Qur'an 4:29-30).
The taking of life is allowed only by way of justice (i.e. the death penalty for murder), but even then, forgiveness is better. "Nor take life - which Allah has made sacred - except for just cause..." (17:33)....etc...

seekerof

[Edited on 21-3-2004 by Seekerof]

(queue music: "Another One bites the dust" by Queen)

From www.debka.com...
Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin is dead. Israeli helicopters fired three missiles at his car on way to mosque in Gaza City. Hamas loudspeakers announce his death with two guards. After double terrorist attack on Ashdod Port killed 10 Israelis, Israeli cabinet finally marked Yassin down as target.

Looks like that was the decision to "step up" operations against the palastinains that they had been planning. Obviously they knew where he was staying...

I expect the palastinains knew it was only a matter of time and would have contingencies in place for it as well.

[Edited on 21-3-2004 by Netchicken]