Hamas and Ideology

Key Findings:

Hamas is not just a terrorist organization but also an ideological movement that prioritizes its ideological commitments above immediate political or military goals. Understanding its actions, particularly the October 7 attacks on Israel, requires a recognition of how deeply it is driven by a fundamentalist vision derived from its roots in the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas does not merely seek a Palestinian state but an Islamic state in all of historic Palestine, including the eradication of Israel. This ideological drive shapes its long-term objectives, making it more difficult to analyze its behavior through the lens of traditional rational actor models.

The debate around Hamas’ motivations reflects a broader struggle to balance its extremist ideology with historical grievances tied to Palestinian dispossession and Israeli occupation. Some view Hamas as driven solely by a desire to kill Jews, akin to a modern form of Nazism, while others argue that its actions are rooted in a response to occupation and colonialism. However, this ideological dimension makes Hamas’ behavior more complex. While its immediate violence is aimed at Israelis, it is also aiming to strengthen its ideological position by inflaming further militancy among Palestinians, even at the cost of its own survival as a governing power in Gaza.

Hamas operates under a logic where ideology is paramount, even more so than its own rule. Its attack on Israel was calculated to provoke a harsh response, which Hamas expects will drive Palestinians further toward its militant ideology, rather than toward peace or negotiation. Hamas’ actions demonstrate that ideological movements can act in ways that prioritize the survival of their ideas over their own existence.