Israel vs Palestine War: What is Hamas?

Mohak Mangal
11 Oct 202328:59

Summary

TLDRThis video delves into the Israel-Palestine conflict, focusing on Hamas, its origins, and recent attacks. It details Hamas' rise from the Muslim Brotherhood, key historical events, and their ongoing clashes with Israel. The script also explores geopolitical influences, including Iran's support for Hamas and the broader Middle Eastern dynamics. The video highlights the complexities of the conflict, the humanitarian impact on Gaza, and the international responses, particularly from the U.S. and neighboring countries. The narrative emphasizes the enduring cycle of violence and the challenging prospects for peace.

Takeaways

  • 📢 Ismail Haniyeh is the leader of Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for attacks against Israel.
  • 🎉 The Supernova Music Festival in Israel was attacked by Hamas fighters on October 7th, leading to kidnappings and deaths.
  • 🚁 Hamas fighters entered Israel using motorboats, ground attacks, and paragliding, targeting border towns and villages.
  • 💣 The conflict between Israel and Palestine has escalated to its worst since 2014, with Israel responding to Hamas' attack with airstrikes and blockades.
  • 📖 Hamas, formed by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, is an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and opposes Israel's existence, advocating for an Islamic state in Palestine.
  • 🔥 Hamas' rise was partly due to political dissatisfaction among Palestinians with the PLO and the failed peace process.
  • 🔍 Israel has tried various methods to counter Hamas, including building an underground wall and conducting military operations, but Hamas continues to launch attacks.
  • 🌍 Iran is a significant supporter of Hamas, providing financial and military aid, and has strategic interests in destabilizing the region.
  • 🤝 Qatar hosts Hamas' leadership and acts as a mediator, maintaining relations with both Western countries and terrorist groups.
  • ⚠️ The conflict's resolution is complicated by internal Palestinian political divisions, international interventions, and the lack of a moderate political alternative in Palestine.

Q & A

  • Who is Ismail Haniyeh?

    -Ismail Haniyeh is the leader of Hamas, a Palestinian Islamic organization considered a terrorist group by several countries.

  • What event is described as having taken place at the Supernova Music Festival on October 7th?

    -On October 7th, thousands of Hamas fighters attacked the Supernova Music Festival in Israel, resulting in kidnappings and violence.

  • How did Hamas fighters enter Israel during the attack?

    -Hamas fighters entered Israel using motorboats, ground attacks, and paragliding.

  • What measures did Israel take in response to the Hamas attack?

    -Israel launched rockets in response to the attack and imposed a complete blockade on Gaza.

  • Who founded Hamas and what influenced its creation?

    -Hamas was founded by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, who was influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

  • What is the main difference in objectives between Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)?

    -Hamas does not recognize Israel and advocates for jihad as a solution to the Palestinian problem, while the PLO has recognized Israel and supports a two-state solution.

  • Why did Hamas gain popularity among Palestinians during the second intifada?

    -Hamas gained popularity due to widespread frustration with the Palestinian Authority and the perceived failure of the peace process to improve Palestinian lives.

  • How does Iran support Hamas?

    -Iran supports Hamas by providing financial aid, military training, and weapons.

  • What are the two main responsibilities of Hamas according to the group?

    -Hamas believes it has two main responsibilities: caring for Palestinians in Gaza and fighting Israel through armed resistance.

  • What is the current situation regarding the political control of Gaza and the West Bank?

    -Hamas controls Gaza, while the Palestinian Authority, dominated by the Fatah party, controls the West Bank.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Leader of Hamas and the Supernova Music Festival Attack

Ismail Haniyeh is the leader of Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for attacks against Israel. On October 7th, Hamas fighters attacked the Supernova Music Festival, leading to kidnappings and destruction. Israel responded with airstrikes and blockades on Gaza, marking the worst conflict since 2014. The U.S. has positioned its aircraft carrier near Israel, primarily to monitor Lebanon. The history of Hamas, founded by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, and its evolution influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood, is explored in detail, highlighting their resistance and violent actions against Israel.

05:06

📉 The Rise of Hamas Amid Political Frustration

In 1987, political frustration among Palestinians led to the formation of Hamas by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. This followed dissatisfaction with the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) recognition of Israel and abandonment of armed struggle. Influenced by Iran's Islamic Revolution, Hamas emerged during the First Intifada, advocating for armed resistance and rejecting the two-state solution. Their 1988 Charter emphasized Jihad as the solution to the Palestinian problem, and their actions included violent uprisings and rejection of the Oslo Accords.

10:10

🔄 Sheikh Yassin's Influence and the Second Intifada

After Sheikh Yassin's arrest and later release, Hamas continued its violent resistance against Israel. The Second Intifada (2000-2005) saw over 200 suicide attacks by Hamas, increasing their support among frustrated Palestinians. Despite Israel's targeted assassinations and military responses, Hamas' popularity grew due to dissatisfaction with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and continued Israeli occupation. Yassin's death in 2004 led to Ismail Haniyeh becoming the leader, with Hamas eventually taking control of Gaza after the 2006 elections.

15:13

🚧 Gaza Blockade and Continued Conflict

Following Hamas' 2007 takeover of Gaza, Israel and Egypt imposed blockades, leading to economic hardships and smuggling through tunnels. The 2014 conflict resulted in significant casualties, further escalating tensions. Despite the blockades and military actions, Hamas maintained substantial support among Palestinians, with the Palestinian Authority seen as corrupt. The 2023 analysis showed more than half of Palestinians would vote for Hamas, reflecting continued frustration and diminishing support for a two-state solution.

20:15

🤝 Iran's Support for Hamas

Iran has been a major supporter of Hamas, providing financial aid and military training. High-level contact between Iran and Hamas began in the 1990s, with Iran teaching Hamas fighters to make suicide bombs. Despite tensions during the Syrian war, relations improved by 2017. Iran's funding and support remain crucial for Hamas, especially after the closure of smuggling tunnels. The geopolitical dynamics, including the Saudi-Israeli peace deal, influence Iran's support for Hamas, aiming to weaken Israel's regional alliances.

25:15

⚔️ The Complex Future of the Israel-Hamas Conflict

The current conflict poses significant challenges for Israel, including potential international pressure and the difficulty of a ground invasion in densely populated Gaza. Israel's threats come from both Gaza and the northern borders with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria. Qatar's role as a mediator and the geopolitical implications of Hamas' actions, influenced by Iran, complicate the situation. Israel faces a dilemma of either weakening Hamas or facing continued resistance, with no moderate Palestinian group gaining significant support.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hamas

Hamas, short for the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. Formed by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, Hamas is known for its violent opposition to Israel, including rocket attacks and suicide bombings. It has a significant political and military presence in Gaza.

💡Sheikh Ahmad Yassin

Sheikh Ahmad Yassin was the founder of Hamas. A Palestinian who studied in Egypt, he returned to Gaza and became an influential figure in the Muslim Brotherhood. He established Hamas as a separate entity to maintain the Brotherhood's non-violent stance while pursuing armed resistance against Israel.

💡Intifada

Intifada, meaning uprising in Arabic, refers to two major Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation. The first Intifada began in 1987 following a traffic accident in Gaza, leading to widespread protests and violence. The second Intifada occurred from 2000 to 2005, marked by increased suicide bombings and Israeli military responses.

💡Oslo Accords

The Oslo Accords were a series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) aimed at achieving a peace treaty based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338 and at fulfilling the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Hamas rejected these accords, refusing to recognize Israel and continuing its armed struggle.

💡Gaza

Gaza is a Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. It is governed by Hamas since their victory in the 2006 elections and subsequent takeover in 2007. Gaza has been the focal point of intense conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups.

💡Palestinian Authority (PA)

The Palestinian Authority is a semi-autonomous body established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Led by Fatah, the PA is often criticized for corruption and its inability to achieve Palestinian statehood, contributing to the rise in support for Hamas.

💡Muslim Brotherhood

The Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Sunni Islamist organization founded in Egypt in 1928. It influenced the formation of Hamas and many other Islamic movements. Initially violent, it shifted to social and political activism but inspired several militant groups.

💡Benjamin Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu is a prominent Israeli politician who has served multiple terms as Israel's Prime Minister. Known for his hardline stance against Palestinian militant groups, his policies have significantly impacted the Israel-Palestine conflict, particularly regarding security measures and military responses.

💡Hezbollah

Hezbollah is a Shia militant group and political party based in Lebanon, supported by Iran. Like Hamas, Hezbollah opposes Israel and has engaged in armed conflict with it. Its leader praised the Hamas attacks, raising concerns about a potential multi-front war involving Israel.

💡Iran

Iran is a major supporter of Hamas, providing financial aid, military training, and weapons. The relationship between Iran and Hamas has been strategic, with Iran leveraging Hamas in its broader geopolitical conflict with Israel and influence in the Middle East.

Highlights

Ismail Haniyeh is the leader of Hamas, a terrorist organization responsible for attacks against Israel.

Thousands of Hamas fighters entered Israel from Gaza, occupying border towns and kidnapping 150 people.

The attack involved motorboats, ground assaults, and paragliding, conducted by specialized Hamas units.

This is the worst conflict between Israel and Palestine since 2014, with Israel responding with rockets and a complete blockade of Gaza.

Hamas was formed by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

The Muslim Brotherhood initially promoted non-violence in Palestine through social welfare programs.

Hamas was created in 1987 during the first Intifada to engage in armed struggle against Israel.

Hamas' 1988 Charter calls for the destruction of Israel and promotes Jihad as the solution to the Palestinian problem.

Hamas refused to recognize the Oslo Accords in 1993, which aimed for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

Hamas' leader Ismail Haniyeh currently resides in Qatar, a country with complex diplomatic relations involving both the US and Hamas.

Iran is a significant supporter of Hamas, providing training, weapons, and financial aid to the organization.

Israel's blockade of Gaza, aimed at restricting Hamas' capabilities, has led to severe humanitarian issues for ordinary Palestinians.

Hamas' attacks and Israel's responses have resulted in a cycle of violence, impacting the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian elections, gaining control over Gaza, leading to a political split with the Palestinian Authority controlling the West Bank.

The recent attacks by Hamas have drawn international attention, with the US deploying an aircraft carrier near Israel's coast to monitor the situation.

Transcripts

play00:00

Ismail Haniyeh.

play00:05

A name you may not have heard of, but you're familiar with his work.

play00:11

He's the leader of Hamas, a terrorist organization

play00:14

responsible for the attacks against Israel.

play00:19

This is the Supernova Music Festival.

play00:23

Thousands of Israelis were partying here on October 7th.

play00:27

But after a few minutes, everything changed.

play00:42

Thousands of Hamas fighters came to Israel from Gaza.

play00:46

They occupied border towns and kidnapped 150 people,

play00:51

including many children.

play00:52

I can't show you the footage because it's too disturbing.

play00:56

This hostage was kidnapped on a motorbike.

play00:59

Many of the people were able to escape because they hid

play01:01

from the terrorists.

play01:03

The terrorists entered Israel by motorboats, ground attack,

play01:06

and paragliding.

play01:07

Israel says these were specialized units.

play01:10

They destroyed an entire village near the border.

play01:13

This is the worst conflict between Israel and Palestine since 2014.

play01:17

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to avenge this.

play01:26

Israel launched its own rockets in response,

play01:29

and completely blocked Gaza.

play01:31

Gaza has only a few hours of electricity left.

play01:34

Hamas has attacked Israel many times before,

play01:37

through tunnels.

play01:38

But in 2014, Israel destroyed many such tunnels.

play01:42

Then, Israel built a sensor-equipped underground wall

play01:46

to prevent such infiltration.

play01:48

But this time, it failed.

play01:50

In response, the U.S. has placed its aircraft carrier near

play01:54

the Israeli border.

play02:01

Why? Because of Hamas?

play02:02

No.

play02:03

The U.S. is keeping an eye on Lebanon.

play02:07

I'll explain this in a bit.

play02:09

So how did a terrorist group in Gaza,

play02:11

where there are only 20 lakh people

play02:13

and the poverty rate is more than 50%,

play02:15

attack Israel?

play02:18

I know many of you have seen videos on this topic.

play02:22

But you won't be able to understand this topic

play02:25

until you understand about a group.

play02:27

Hamas.

play02:38

Hamas is a short form of an Arabic term

play02:41

meaning Islamic Resistance Movement.

play02:44

It was formed by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin,

play02:46

a Palestinian who was in Egypt to study Islam.

play02:49

But he couldn't continue his studies due to lack of money.

play02:52

So he returned to Gaza.

play02:53

He was greatly influenced by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

play02:58

The Muslim Brotherhood was established in 1928

play03:01

and it's one of the largest Islamic organizations in the world.

play03:05

The Muslim Brotherhood says its objective is to change the society

play03:09

into the society that Prophet Muhammad wanted.

play03:11

Initially, violence was an official policy of the Muslim Brotherhood.

play03:21

But Egyptian leader Anwar al-Sadat made a deal with the

play03:24

Muslim Brotherhood.

play03:26

If you leave violence and help me against my enemies,

play03:30

I won't bother you.

play03:31

But many terrorists were inspired by the members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

play03:35

Syed Qutb,

play03:36

wrote about the common struggle of the Muslim Brotherhood.

play03:39

His writings were also shared by terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda.

play03:42

During the 1960s, the Muslim Brotherhood didn't use

play03:45

violence in Palestine.

play03:47

Instead, they used social welfare programs

play03:49

like religious schools, charity associations, and social clubs.

play03:53

When Sheikh Yassin returned to Gaza,

play03:55

he became an activist in Palestine's Muslim Brotherhood.

play03:58

This was when Palestine was already divided into Gaza

play04:02

and the West Bank.

play04:03

The Muslim Brotherhood started spreading its message in Palestine.

play04:06

And they did so through mosques.

play04:09

A 1991 research paper said that

play04:11

from 1967 to 1987,

play04:14

the number of mosques in Gaza increased from 200 to 600.

play04:17

Because the Israeli authorities didn't interfere in mosques,

play04:21

the Muslim Brotherhood started using these mosques to recruit followers.

play04:25

But the future of Sheikh Yassin and the Muslim Brotherhood

play04:27

was about to change.

play04:28

In the late 1970s, many Palestinians were politically frustrated.

play04:33

And they were looking for a new political option.

play04:35

Many Palestinians were not happy with the

play04:37

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO),

play04:40

which was the main political force in Palestine.

play04:43

The PLO had many political parties.

play04:44

But the main political party was Fatah,

play04:47

led by Yasser Arafat.

play04:49

Many Palestinians were not happy with the PLO and Fatah

play04:52

because they gave Israel two things in the negotiations.

play04:55

The first thing was that the PLO recognized Israel.

play04:58

This meant that the PLO would accept a two-state solution.

play05:06

Two-state solution meant that Israel and Palestine would get land.

play05:09

The second thing was that the PLO said that they would

play05:12

leave the armed struggle

play05:13

and settle with Israel through negotiations.

play05:16

Many extremist Palestinians didn't agree with these two things.

play05:20

This was also the time when many Palestinians' eyes were

play05:22

shining when they saw Iran's Islamic Revolution,

play05:26

where a monarchy was removed and an Islamic Republic was established.

play05:36

Sheikh Yassin used this political frustration.

play05:39

In December 1987, there was a motor accident in Gaza

play05:43

involving an Israeli truck and several small cars

play05:46

carrying Palestinian workers.

play05:48

The Palestinian workers were killed in the accident and riots broke out.

play05:51

This resulted in an Intifada.

play05:54

In Arabic, Intifada means uprising.

play05:56

Many unplanned Palestinian demonstrations started in this Intifada.

play06:00

Some were non-violent, like the Civil Disobedience Movement,

play06:03

where the Palestinians who were working in Israel refused to work.

play06:07

Many demonstrations were violent.

play06:09

There was stone throwing against the Israelis,

play06:11

Molotov cocktails were thrown and guns were used.

play06:14

During this time, Sheikh Yassin wanted to help the Palestinians.

play06:18

But he didn't want the Muslim Brotherhood to be associated with violence.

play06:21

So he created a new organization called Hamas.

play06:25

The objectives of Hamas were in the 1988 Charter of the organization.

play06:30

Where Yassin Arafat's PLO recognized Israel,

play06:34

Hamas refused to recognize Israel.

play06:37

The manifesto of Hamas states that the solution to the

play06:39

Palestinian problem

play06:41

can only come through Jihad.

play06:43

The manifesto talks about anti-Jewish books which are completely fake.

play06:47

And which were used by Hitler in the 20th century.

play06:50

Like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion,

play06:53

which blamed Jews for many of the world's problems.

play06:57

In 1988, Sheikh Yassin told The Guardian in an interview

play07:01

that we don't just need West Bank and Gaza's control.

play07:04

The best solution is that Christians, Jews, and Muslims

play07:08

live in Palestine, which will become an Islamic state.

play07:11

That's why in 1991, when Israel and Palestine

play07:14

were signing the Oslo Accords, which was a historic deal,

play07:17

Hamas refused to accept it.

play07:27

In 1988, Mehdi Abed Hadi, who was an academic, gave a warning.

play07:32

Mehdi said that there is no political unity in Palestine.

play07:35

Hamas wants something else.

play07:37

And PLO wants something else.

play07:38

This warning was about to come true.

play07:43

When a consensus isn't strong,

play07:45

it benefits the fundamentalists.

play07:48

If there is no historic change in Palestine's politics,

play07:51

everything will evolve towards violence.

play07:53

And the fundamentalists will be in control.

play07:56

In 1989, Sheikh Yassin was arrested by Israel.

play08:00

But the situation was still bad.

play08:02

To protest against the Oslo Accords,

play08:04

Hamas launched several su***de bombings.

play08:07

There were several bombings in buses,

play08:09

where many Israelis were killed.

play08:10

In response, in December 1995,

play08:13

Israel killed Hamas' main bombmaker, Yahya Ayyash.

play08:18

But the su***de attacks didn't stop.

play08:20

Before Israel's 1996 elections,

play08:22

there were more su***de bombings.

play08:24

But after these bombings,

play08:25

Israel's politics was also changing.

play08:27

Instead of liberal Shimon Peres,

play08:29

Israelis started to like a hardline leader.

play08:33

The leader's name was Benjamin Netanyahu.

play08:35

In 1996, Benjamin Netanyahu became Israel's prime minister.

play08:39

In 1997, the United States labelled Hamas as a terrorist organization.

play08:43

But the situation didn't change.

play08:45

In 1997, there were two su***de bomb attacks

play08:48

where 27 Israelis were killed.

play08:49

Netanyahu said, we can't work like this.

play08:53

He blamed Yasser Arafat

play08:55

for not being successful in stopping terrorism.

play08:58

A few days later,

play08:59

Israel was about to show its response.

play09:01

Israel's secret group, Mossad, was given the responsibility

play09:05

to kill Khaled Meshaal,

play09:06

who was Hamas' leader and was living in Jordan.

play09:10

Keep in mind that Sheikh Yassin was in jail

play09:13

and that's why Hamas had a new leader.

play09:14

Two Mossad agents were given the responsibility

play09:17

to poison Khaled on an open road.

play09:20

The poison was a fentanyl derivative

play09:22

that can kill a person within a few hours

play09:24

after coming in contact with their skin.

play09:26

The plan was that as soon as Khaled left his car,

play09:29

an agent would throw poison at him and another agent would

play09:32

open a Coke bottle and throw it at Khaled

play09:35

so that Khaled would think

play09:37

somebody threw Coke at him and not poison.

play09:39

As soon as Khaled left his car to enter his office,

play09:42

his daughter called out to him

play09:45

and Khaled turned around.

play09:46

One agent threw the poison

play09:48

but the other agent was shocked

play09:49

and didn't throw the coke.

play09:51

Khaled found out that he was attacked

play09:53

and the Mossad agents were caught.

play09:55

Jordan asked Israel how they dared to do this on their land.

play10:00

Jordan told Israel to give them an antidote against poison

play10:03

or else he would kill his agents.

play10:06

Israel gave them the antidote but also released Sheikh Yassin,

play10:09

the spiritual leader of Hamas.

play10:11

This didn't improve the situation, but only worsened it.

play10:14

Sheikh Yassin became the leader of Hamas again.

play10:17

Many common Palestinians were frustrated with the peace deal

play10:20

that was signed in 1991.

play10:22

The peace deal promised that ordinary Palestinians would have a better life.

play10:26

But that didn't happen.

play10:28

From 1993 to 2000, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank

play10:32

and Gaza became more intense instead of decreasing.

play10:35

The Palestinians thought that after the peace deal,

play10:38

their poverty would decrease and they'd have freedom of movement.

play10:41

But that didn't happen.

play10:42

The frustration intensified when the peace deal in Camp David

play10:46

in July 2000 was unsuccessful.

play10:55

Between 2000 and 2005, the Palestinians launched a second intifada.

play10:59

According to a research paper, Hamas carried out more than 200

play11:03

su***de attacks in these five years.

play11:06

The support for Hamas increased among the Palestinians.

play11:08

Many Palestinians were supporting the su***de attacks

play11:12

during the second intifada.

play11:16

The Palestinians were fed up with the PLO and the Palestinian Authority.

play11:20

Practically speaking, the PLO and PA are the same organizations.

play11:24

Many Palestinians were frustrated with the Palestinian Authority

play11:27

because they believed that the PA wasn't working

play11:30

and that it was corrupt.

play11:32

The second intifada prompted Israel to impose more

play11:35

restrictions on ordinary Palestinians and target Hamas leaders.

play11:40

On September 6, 2003, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet attacked

play11:46

Sheikh Yassin's home in Gaza.

play11:50

But Sheikh Yassin survived.

play11:51

The next year, Sheikh Yassin was finally killed by an Israeli missile.

play11:55

Who became Hamas' next leader?

play12:01

Ismail Haniyeh.

play12:02

Where does he live? Qatar.

play12:04

Why Qatar?

play12:05

I'll tell you in a bit.

play12:07

Eventually, Israel decided that to save the lives of Israelis,

play12:10

they had to reduce their presence in Gaza.

play12:13

Many Israeli settlements were built in Gaza.

play12:16

The government feared that the Israelis would die in an attack.

play12:21

That's why, in 2005, surprisingly, the Israeli government

play12:24

asked the Israelis who had occupied the Palestinian

play12:28

territories in Gaza to withdraw.

play12:30

These are the territories that Israel took control of from

play12:34

Egypt in the 1967 war.

play12:35

This was the first time that Israeli troops came from Gaza to the Green Line,

play12:41

a 1949 line that was built between

play12:44

Israel and other Arab countries.

play12:46

This Israeli withdrawal became a major election issue.

play12:49

In 2006, elections were about to take place in Palestine.

play12:52

Fatah, a major political party in Palestine that was

play12:56

controlling the West Bank, was hopeful that they would win the elections.

play13:00

Because Israel withdrew from Gaza during their government.

play13:03

But the situation was different.

play13:06

Hamas won with a majority.

play13:08

This meant that Hamas would not only control Gaza,

play13:11

but the West Bank as well.

play13:12

After the 2006 elections, George Bush said that he wouldn't let this happen.

play13:17

He tried to promote a leader in the Fatah party who was in

play13:21

support of Israel and the US.

play13:23

But Hamas understood this plan.

play13:24

They expelled all the Fatah soldiers from Gaza.

play13:28

And after May 2007, they took full control of Gaza.

play13:31

So now Fatah or PA was in control of the West Bank,

play13:35

Hamas was in control of Gaza.

play13:37

Hamas, a terrorist group, was fully controlling Gaza.

play13:41

In response, Israel and Egypt said that they would block all the borders.

play13:46

Land, air, and sea.

play13:48

Israel said that if they didn't block the borders of Hamas,

play13:51

Hamas would have more dangerous weapons.

play13:54

Now we can understand what Israel meant.

play13:56

Why did a Muslim majority in Egypt block the borders?

play13:59

Because Egypt's political government was also against the

play14:02

Muslim Brotherhood.

play14:03

The Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt's military were enemies.

play14:06

That's why Egypt's government didn't want to support Hamas.

play14:10

Because Hamas was formed by the Muslim Brotherhood.

play14:12

In fact, in recent attacks, an Egyptian intelligence official

play14:16

said that he had warned the Israelis that

play14:19

something big was about to happen.

play14:20

Now that the borders were closed,

play14:22

the Palestinians had no way to buy anything.

play14:25

To solve this problem, they started digging tunnels near

play14:28

the Egyptian border.

play14:36

They smuggled a lot of things from the Egyptian market and

play14:39

then sent them to Gaza.

play14:40

The smuggled goods were very basic, like oil or mechanical parts.

play14:45

But there were also things that weren't available in Gaza,

play14:49

like make-up and cigarettes.

play14:50

Hamas also imposed a tax on the smuggled goods,

play14:53

which made it profitable.

play14:54

In 2009, Benjamin Netanyahu became Israel's prime minister again.

play14:58

And his hardline tactics continued.

play15:00

Israeli settlements increased in the Palestinian territories.

play15:03

The lives of ordinary Palestinians became worse.

play15:06

Hamas carried out more violent attacks against Israel.

play15:09

And Israel responded by imposing more restrictions on

play15:12

ordinary Palestinians.

play15:13

After that, the West Bank and Gaza became a jail for the Palestinians.

play15:17

In 2013, when Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power,

play15:21

he too was against the Muslim Brotherhood.

play15:33

He ordered the Egyptian army to close these tunnels with a

play15:36

number of strategies.

play15:47

In September 2015, Egypt poured Mediterranean Sea water

play15:51

into these tunnels so that no one could use them.

play15:54

Violence between Hamas and Israel continued, and it reached

play15:58

its peak in 2014.

play16:05

After the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers, a 50-day war broke out,

play16:09

in which more than 70 Israelis

play16:11

and more than 2,000 Palestinians were killed.

play16:13

And the same vicious cycle continued.

play16:15

The lives of ordinary Palestinians were ruined.

play16:18

Hamas reacted violently,

play16:19

and Israel increased its settlements in the West Bank.

play16:23

Thousands of Palestinian civilians died in this conflict.

play16:26

Some of you may think that

play16:28

Hamas won't be as popular among Palestinians,

play16:31

but you're wrong.

play16:32

The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research's

play16:35

analysis in June 2023 showed that more than half of the

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Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank will vote for Hamas'

play16:41

leader in a presidential election, rather than for the

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Palestinian Authority's leader.

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Since 2018, the support for a two-state solution is

play16:49

declining in Palestine.

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These Palestinians believe that if there's a peace deal,

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Israel won't let them live in peace.

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In addition, the Palestinian Authority's Mahmoud Abbas,

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the leader of the West Bank, didn't hold a national election in 2021.

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He said he would hold the elections only when Israel allowed

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Palestinians in East Jerusalem to vote.

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But some political analysts say that the real

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reason for these elections not being held is different.

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These are Abbas Kamel and Ahmed Hosni.

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Who are they?

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Leaders of Egyptian and Jordanian intelligence services.

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In January 2021, a newspaper reported that they went to the

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Palestinian Authority's headquarters to meet Mahmoud Abbas.

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These two leaders told Mahmoud Abbas not to hold the

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elections in Palestine because according to thier reports,

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Hamas would win the elections.

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Egypt doesn't want Hamas to take full political control over Palestine

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because Egypt is against the Muslim Brotherhood.

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Jordan believes that there was a political crisis in their

play17:51

country when a coup was attempted against their king.

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If Hamas takes control of the West Bank, political instability

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will start there which will have an impact on Jordan.

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Israel doesn't want these elections to be held.

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Nadav Argaman, a senior Israeli security leader, also met with Abbas.

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He told Abbas that his data also suggests that Fatah will

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lose the elections.

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Hamas launches rockets against Israel from Gaza.

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If Hamas wins the elections, the West Bank will be in the same situation.

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Officially, Israel said that they didn't ask Palestine to

play18:25

stop these elections.

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But in reality, Israel also threatened the Palestinian Authority

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not to hold the elections.

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Israel said that if they hold the elections, it will stop their funding.

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And yes, the West Bank's Palestinian Authority gets funding from Israel.

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This is why many Palestinians don't like the Palestinian Authority.

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Palestinians believe that the PA is corrupt and they dance to Israel's tunes.

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Approximately 85% of Palestinians believe that the

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Palestinian Authority is corrupt.

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So we shouldn't overlook the fact that many people in

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Palestine support Hamas.

play18:59

But the question is, why did Hamas launch this attack?

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There are two reasons.

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The first reason is the fear of Hamas' support.

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According to Hamas, it has two responsibilities.

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The first one is to take care of the Palestinians who live in Gaza.

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And the second one is to fight Israel's armed resistance.

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They've been carrying out the second responsibility for years.

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But they're facing many challenges in the first one.

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Due to Israeli economic pressure, there's a lot of

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unemployment and poverty in Gaza.

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If you're not doing your first duty well,

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why not distract people with your second duty?

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To understand the second reason, we don't need to look at Hamas.

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Instead, we need to look at Iran.

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Iran is worried about the changing geopolitical environment

play19:45

in the Middle East.

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Many unimaginable things are happening in the Middle East.

play19:50

Like a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

play19:58

A photo went viral where the Israeli

play20:01

communications minister is worshipping with the Torah.

play20:03

That too, in Saudi Arabia, where Islam was born.

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Shiite-dominated Iran is not a friend of Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia.

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This started after the Iranian Revolution when Ayatollah Khomeini

play20:14

overthrew the Iranian monarchy.

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The Saudi rulers were afraid that Khomeini would try to do

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the same thing in Saudi Arabia.

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Breaking this deal would benefit Iran the most.

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Because Iran wants: the more enemies Israel has, the better.

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Reports have already said that Iran helped Hamas in

play20:35

planning this attack.

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It's not surprising that Iran is Hamas' biggest supporter.

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High-level contact between Iran and Hamas started in the 1990s.

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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, which is

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Iran's military force, taught Hamas fighters how to make su***de bombs.

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Many times, Iran even sent weapons and rocket materials by sea,

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where they hid from the Israeli blockade and gave supplies to Palestinian fishermen.

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Currently, Iran gives $100 million to other terrorist

play21:13

groups in Hamas and Palestine every year.

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Iran knows very well how to control Hamas.

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In 2011, when the Syrian war started, relations between

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Iran and Hamas worsened.

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Iran was supporting Bashar al-Assad,

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while Hamas was supporting a Sunni Arab opposition.

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What did Iran do? They stopped funding Hamas.

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In 2017, Hamas chose a leader who wanted to maintain good

play21:38

relations with Iran.

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After that, relations returned to normal.

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It's not easy for Hamas to collect money other than from Iran.

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In 2018, after the blockade of the tunnels, Egypt allowed

play21:49

some commercial goods through the Salah al-Din border crossing.

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By 2021, Hamas had been able to collect $12 million every month

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from the goods taxes at the border crossing.

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But many Palestinians still use illegal tunnels so that they don't

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have to pay taxes to Hamas.

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That's why Hamas doesn't have many options other than Iran.

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Now the question is, what's going to happen next?

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Israel has increased the blockade on Gaza so that nothing

play22:17

can go in or out.

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And increased the number of airstrikes.

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In the United Nations, Israel's ambassador said that Israel

play22:34

wants to eliminate all terrorist capabilities of Hamas.

play22:43

But if Israel's objective is to eliminate Hamas' terrorist capabilities,

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it won't be through a blockade or airstrikes.

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No matter how strong the airstrikes are, it's almost

play22:53

impossible to destroy Hamas.

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Israel has already blocked the entire area.

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Medicines, food, and water supplies have been restricted.

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Soon, Israel will face international pressure.

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Israel has only one way to achieve its objective.

play23:06

A major ground operation.

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But it won't be easy.

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That's why many American presidents have said that they

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don't want to send their troops to Afghanistan.

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That's why Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

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Because Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

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And it's very difficult to conduct a military operation in urban areas.

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To give you an idea, Israel used the same strategy in 2014.

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The name of their operation was Protective Edge.

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This operation lasted for two weeks.

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But the soldiers were only able to enter a few kilometers inside Gaza.

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More than 60 Israeli soldiers were killed in this operation.

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And more than 2,000 Palestinians.

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According to experts, after 2014,

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Hamas has learned a lot about a ground operation.

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Besides, Hamas has kidnapped many Israelis.

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This complicates how Israel will respond.

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Israel's threat is not only in Gaza.

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It will come from two other places.

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The first is its northern border, Lebanon and Syria.

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Because Hezbollah is there.

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Hezbollah, meaning Party of Allah, is an Iran-supported

play24:28

Shia Muslim political party and militant group in Lebanon.

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It controls many Shia-majority areas in Lebanon.

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Hezbollah's leader praised the Hamas attack and warned

play24:39

other Arab countries not to normalize their relations with Israel.

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And when he was talking about Arab countries, he was

play24:47

probably targeting Saudi Arabia.

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In 1978, when Israel occupied southern Lebanon,

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Hezbollah's main enemy was Israel.

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In 2000, Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon.

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But the situation didn't improve.

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In 2006, Israel and Hezbollah fought a one-month war.

play25:05

Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets at Israel.

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In its 2009 manifesto,

play25:10

Hezbollah reiterated that it wants to wipe out the entire Israeli state.

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This is why many analysts argue that Hezbollah can create a

play25:18

two-front war against Israel.

play25:20

That's why when the US sent its aircraft carrier to the

play25:24

Israeli coast, it didn't send a message to Hamas.

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Instead, it sent a message to Hezbollah and Iran.

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India must be worried about this because there are many

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Indian soldiers in Lebanon who are in

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the United Nations' peacekeeping force.

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Another threat to Israel is the West Bank.

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where Hamas has said that Palestinians should start

play25:42

an armed struggle.

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Remember that Hamas doesn't control the West Bank.

play25:47

Palestinian Authority controls it.

play25:49

And there are violent clashes in the West Bank as well.

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Even before these attacks, violence was on the rise in the West Bank.

play25:56

Some analysts even said that a third intifada could start

play26:00

in the West Bank.

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Qatar is trying to solve this situation, where Hamas' leader is based.

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Qatar has said that it is mediating between Israel and

play26:09

Hamas so that the kidnapped people can get relief.

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Israel has given an official statement that it is not negotiating anything.

play26:16

But it's hard to believe because many Israeli civilians

play26:19

have been kidnapped by Hamas.

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Qatar is a strange country.

play26:22

It is a friend of the United States.

play26:24

But Qatar also houses headquarters and leaders of the Taliban and Hamas.

play26:28

Qatar's foreign policy is to remain a mediator.

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That's why Western countries, Israel, or terrorist groups

play26:35

like the Taliban and Hamas have relations with Qatar.

play26:39

But Israel's problems are about to get worse.

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Once Israel enters Gaza, it will have to decide how to

play26:47

weaken Hamas in Gaza.

play26:50

Whether to weaken it or destroy it.

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If Hamas survives, Hamas will say that they won the war.

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If Hamas dies, who will take political control over Hamas?

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Because there is no moderate group left in Palestine.

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Many people don't support the Palestinian Authority in the

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name of corruption.

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A former deputy Israeli national security advisor said that

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Netanyahu is at fault here.

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He said that in the past 15 years,

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Netanyahu has created a divide between Israel and Gaza and

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has diminished the credibility of the Palestinian Authority.

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That means there is no moderate group left in Palestine that people like.

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If there is no other option in Palestine other than Hamas,

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Israel will have to take control of Gaza.

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Because of this, many Israeli soldiers may lose their lives.

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That's why many Israelis believe that Netanyahu will be at

play27:43

fault if he engages in an aggressive ground invasion.

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Netanyahu says that Israel's enemies want Israel to be

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forced to enter Gaza and search house-to-house for

play27:54

terrorists to kill innocent people.

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Because of such an offensive,

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Israel's international sympathy will diminish.

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Netanyahu says that this is Israel's 9/11.

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But this is what happened after 9/11.

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After the end of the American operation,

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the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan.

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That's why many analysts say that Netanyahu only has bad options.

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And this is very important for us to understand.

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It's easy to post something on social media.

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But it's even harder to understand that we can criticize

play28:24

Hamas for its terrorism and we can criticize Israel for its occupation.

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But we can't justify Hamas's actions through Israeli occupation.

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And this is very important for us to understand.

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If you want to understand the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict,

play28:39

you can watch this video.

play28:41

I've also linked two detailed videos in the pinned comment.

play28:44

They'll give you more information.

play28:46

But that's in English.

play28:48

I've made a similar detailed video about India and Canada

play28:52

about Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

play28:54

You can watch that video here.

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