Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by Israel, the EU, the USA and the UN. It has made itself notorious for its violent radicalism and uncompromising rejection of the Jewish state. After its infamous victory in the 2006 elections the world was watching to see how Hamas would govern. Could an Islamist group without any experience of power – and with an unwavering ideology – manage to deal with day-to-day realities on the ground?
Björn Brenner investigates Hamas’s decade of governance that followed the successful elections – and puts the spotlight on this government’s actions, rather than its ideas. Lodging with Palestinian families and experiencing their daily encounters with Hamas, he offers an intimate perspective of the group as seen through local eyes. The book is based on hard-to-secure interviews with a wide range of key political and security figures in the Hamas administration, as well as with military commanders and members of the feared Qassam Brigades.
This updated edition covers recent events since 2017, revisits original conclusions and reflects on the future for Hamas. The new features include a foreword by Shaul Mishal, an introduction by Magnus Ranstorp and an epilogue by Benedetta Berti. An added chapter discusses Hamas’s new Charter, shifting power-balance within, changing regional dynamics – and how we can understand the relationship between Hamas and democracy today.