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The Ascendance of Political Islam: Hamas and consolidation in the Gaza Strip

2008; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 29; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/01436590802528739

1360-2241

Beverley Milton‐Edwards,

Middle East Politics and Society

Abstract Abstract This article outlines the means by which the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas has developed and implemented a consolidation of power strategy that is inexorably driving it to a state of increasingly authoritarian control in the Gaza Strip. It discusses the factors that have driven Hamas in terms of power seeking as primordial to all radical Islamist movements or as a result of or response to other factors outside its control. The article highlights the concurrent demise of the Fatah organisation in the Gaza Strip as the largest and most visible symbol of secularism. It then reflects on the role of external, including international, actors in accelerating consolidation tactics following the Hamas 'takeover' of power from the Fatah-dominated institutions of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in June 2007. The article aims to demonstrate that Hamas' control in Gaza is an important signpost in terms of developing Islamism in the Middle East region. Notes On Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip, see International Crisis Group (ICG), 'After Gaza', International Crisis Group Middle East Report 68, August 2007. Islam Shahwan, Hamas Executive Forces Spokesman, author interview, Gaza City, 17 June 2007. See International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), 'Hamas coup in Gaza', Strategic Comments, 13 (5), June 2007; and R Satloff, 'In the wake of the Hamas coup: rethinking America's "Grand Strategy" for the new Palestinian Authority', Policy Watch, 1252, Washington, DC: Washington Institute for Near East Policy, June 2007. On Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declaring the Hamas government illegitimate, see I Kershner & T El-Khodary, 'Abbas swears in Emergency Government', New York Times, 17 June 2007. The Arab League condemned the takeover. Egypt's foreign minister alleged Iranian involvement and other Arab states were forced to review their strategy. Oxford Analytic, 'Egypt faces policy crisis over Gaza', Forbes, 26 June 2007. Persistent allegations of torture and ill-treatment of Hamas detainees surfaced. In February 2008 the PA was accused of torture in the death of Hamas Imam Majd al-Barghouti. 'Abbas govt accused of torture', al-Jazeera, 26 February 2008. 'Hizb ut-Tahrir fills void left by Hamas', Christian Science Monitor, 21 January 2008; and S Taji-Farouki, A Fundamental Quest: Hizb al-Tahrir and the Search for the Islamic Caliphate, London: Grey Seal Books, 1996. See Mahjoob Zweiri, 'The Hamas victory: shifting sands or major earthquake?', Third World Quarterly, 27 (4), 2006, pp 675–687. See B Milton-Edwards, 'Hamas: victory with ballots and bullets', Global Change, Peace and Security, 19 (3), 2007, pp 301–316. Egyptian security official, author interview, Gaza City, 15 May 2007. See V Nasr & R Takeyh, 'The cost of containing Iran, Washington's misguided new Middle East policy', Foreign Affairs, January–February 2008, at http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20080101 faessay87106/vali-nasr-ray-takeyh/the-cost-of-containing-iran.html; and J Steele, 'Hamas acted on a very real fear of a US-sponsored coup', Guardian, 22 June 2007. Mr Jamal Abu Hashem, Deputy Minister of Education, author interview, Gaza City, 23 January 2007. Egyptian security official, author interview, Gaza City, 22 January 2007. R McCarthy, 'Order without law: Hamas flexes its muscles to assert political authority', Guardian, 16 August 2008. Abu Ubaydah al-Jarrah, Commander in Chief of Executive Forces, author interview, Gaza City, 17 June 2007. See Yezid Sayigh, 'The Palestinian strategic impasse', Survival, 44 (4), 2000, pp 7–21; and Khalil Shikaki, 'The future of Palestine', Foreign Affairs, 83 (6), 2004, pp 45–57. On Mohammed Dahlan and alleged collusion with the Bush administration to bring Hamas down, see D Rose, 'Gaza bombshell', Vanity Fair, April 2008. Col Mohammed Dahlan, author interview, Gaza City, 30 July 2003. See H Krieger, 'Gen Dayton admits US is helping Fatah', Jerusalem Post, 27 May 2007. 'Elliot Abrahms' uncivil war', Conflicts Forum Report, at http://conflictsforum.org/2007/elliot-abrams-uncivil-war/. WP Strobel & D Nissenbaum, 'How US policy missteps led to a nasty downfall in Gaza, McClatchy, 4 July 2007. Western diplomats in Jerusalem confirmed this strategy to the author, June 2007. Alvaro de Soto, 'End of Mission Report', at http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2007/06/12/DeSotoReport.pdf, p 21. Usama Hamdan, Hamas Representative Lebanon, author interview, 2 July 2007. Hamas closed down or encouraged the closing down of newspaper offices, radio stations, trade union and other labour offices associated with Fatah, suppressed youth organisations, intervened at Fatah dominated wedding celebrations, arrested and detained pro-Fatah elements. J Hider, 'Bomb attack leads to huge Hamas crackdown on Fatah', The Times, 28 July 2008. Usama Hamdan, Hamas Representative Lebanon, author interview, Beirut, 19 September 2007. Younes al-Astal, Hamas PLC member in Khan Yunis, author interview, Gaza, 19 June 2007. Hamas clashed violently with the Fatah-affiliated Hilles clan, killing, injuring and leading hundreds of others to flee Gaza. Tensions and clashes initially characterised Hamas Islamic Jihad relations in the wake of the June 2007 takeover. Khaled Hroub, Hamas: A Beginners Guide, London: Pluto Press, 2006; and Beverley Milton-Edwards, Islamic Politics in Palestine, London: IB Tauris, 1999. Abu Ubaydah, spokesperson for Izz-a-din al-Qassam Brigades, author interview, Gaza, 20 July 2007. Dr Mahmoud Zahar, Hamas leader, author interview, Gaza City, 23 January 2007. Dr Miriam Abu Dagha, author interview, Gaza City, 14 March 2007. Anonymous leader of Fatah women's committee, Gaza, 14 March 2007. See Palestine Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) press release, at http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2007/178-2007.html, 30 December 2007. ICG, 'Enter Hamas: the challenge of political integration', ICG Middle East Report 49, January 2006; and B Milton-Edwards, 'Prepared for power: Hamas, governance and conflict', Civil Wars, 7 (4), 2005, pp 311–329. Mayor Majed Abu Ramadan, Mayor of Gaza, author interview 28 January 2008. Ibid. See PCHR press releases 2007–2008, at http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/PressR/English/2007/press2007.html. In March 2008 it was reported that living conditions in Gaza had become worse than they were when Israel first occupied the territory in 1967.