Hamas: A Terrorist Organization or Liberation Movement?

Abstract

This article examines the West’s designation of Hamas as a terrorist or- ganization. Describing Hamas as such is unfounded. Western terror criterion and Hamas’s Charter is not clear evidence that the movement is not ready to engage in the political process. The article draws a comparison between the Hamas’s Charter and the Charter of the Israeli Likud Party. A number of argu- ments are presented in support of Hamas not being a terrorist organization. Among such evidences are Hamas’s electrical victory in 2006, and many state- ments made by the movement’s leaders. Moreover, Hamas has never threat- ened the West, thus there is no justification to designate it as a terrorist or- ganization. The liberation discourse of the movement and the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories must also be considered. The author concludes that the West is urged to officially talk to Hamas for any lasting peaceful resolution to prevail in the Middle East.

Juxtaposition of Right to Self-Determination and Terrorism Under International Law

“…The designation of Palestinian resistance movements that used a military approach as terrorist organisations came to a standstill in 2006 when HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement) win the election as the representative government of the people of Palestine. HAMAS was one of the numerous Palestinian liberation movement organisations that had been labelled as terrorist organisations by Israel and its allies due to their consistent military approach (Aljamal, 2014). UN and the Quartet Members did not acknowledge the election's democratic result due to HAMAS refusal to submit to the views held by the Quartet that 'all members of a future Palestinian government must be committed to nonviolence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Roadmap…' (Library of Congress Washington DC Congressional Research Service, 2007;United Nations, 2006).…”