Hamas and its supporters are ‘beyond belief’

Why in the News?

The recent attack of Hamas on Israel which has led to flaring up of a full-fledged war, has been condoned by some while condemned by other countries.

 The War’s effect on the Palestinian cause

1. Views of many European observers:
   1. The Hamas attack is considered wrong and indefensible.
   2. However, Hamas launched the attack as consequence of the huge spread of Israeli settlements (Israeli settler aggression), largely encouraged by the Netanyahu governments and condoned by allies such as the United States. 
   3. Hamas has also declared that its aim is to drive back such new or recent settlements.
2. However, historically Palestinians have indulged in violent/ ‘terrorist’ acts to focus world attention on the Palestinian problem.
   1. Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), under Yasser Arafat’s leadership also used such tactics to draw attention to their plight and the oppressive policies of Israel.
   2. Such an outcome to their cause was Oslo Accords.

The past and the present:

1. The difference between then and now is the PLO and Hamas.
2. PLO under Yasser Arafat was fighting a secular battle for a nation-state against a state that is defined by religion. 
3. However, political Islam is today associated almost entirely with Islam and almost all Muslims.
   1.  Many Muslims have endorsed extreme versions of religiosity and fundamentalism and define imagined states in religious ‘Islamic’ terms.
   2. Muslims who don not agree with such versions of political Islam are sidelined as ‘anti-Islamic’ or unfairly dismissed as “not Muslim”. (for instance, the protestors of Iran are considered so).
4. Such a division crated by organisations such as Hamas is likely to be factor that will contribute to the defeat of Hamas against Israel.