Understanding Hamas
And Why That Matters
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Both accessible and authoritative, Understanding Hamas provides much-needed insight into a widely misunderstood movement whose involvement in a just resolution of the Israel/Palestine conflict will be critical.
Across Western mainstream discourse, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has been subjected to intense vilification. Branding it as "terrorist" or worse, this demonization intensified after the events in Southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
This book does not advocate for or against Hamas. Rather, in a series of rich and probing conversations with leading experts, it aims to deepen understanding of a movement that is a key player in the current crisis. It looks at, among other things, Hamas's critical shift from social and religious activism to national political engagement; the delicate balance between Hamas's political and military wings; and its transformation from early anti-Jewish tendencies to a stance that differentiates between Judaism and Zionism.
About this Author
Helena Cobban is a former columnist for The Christian Science Monitor.
Rami G. Khouri is a former Managing Editor of The Jordan Times.
Dr. Paola Caridi teaches at the University of Palermo and is a former journalist who reported from Jerusalem from 2003-12. She is the author of Hamas: From Resistance to Government.
Dr. Jeroen Gunning, a Professor of Middle Eastern Politics and Conflict Studies at King's College London, is the author of a 2010 book on Hamas and a founder of the field of critical terrorism studies.
Dr. Khaled Hroub, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre of Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge, is professor of Middle Eastern studies at Northwestern University in Qatar and author of Hamas: A Beginner's Guide.
Mouin Rabbani, co-editor of Jadaliyya, is managing editor of the Journal of Peacebuilding and Development and a former senior analyst on Israel-Palestine for the International Crisis Group.
Dr. Azzam Tamimi, a British-Palestinian-Jordanian political thinker, was previously head of the Institute of Islamic Political Thought and is the author of several books including Hamas: A History from Within.
Reviews
"An accessible and thorough primer grounded in genuine expertise on the history of Palestinian resistance."
--Max Blumenthal
"Truly important ... should be read by everyone seriously interested in understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
--John J. Mearsheimer
"Makes the case for engaging the movement as opposed to trying to ostracize it and destroy it."
--Fawaz A. Gerges
"In a world of information warfare, in which little is true and every slur is plausible, reliable access to facts is invaluable ... Understanding Hamas tells it like it is."
--Amb. Chas W. Freeman, Jr.
"Vital and timely ... No one can deal with the Palestinian Question, or with Gaza, without understanding, and coming to terms with Hamas."
--Jonathan Kuttab
"I couldn't put it down and highly recommend it to anyone concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people."
--Medea Benjamin
"The West's dominant media tell us little about Hamas' history or ideology, relying instead on "terrorist" clichés. This new book cuts through them to explain."
--The Black Agenda Report
"Understanding Hamas quickly provides the reader with the fundamental building blocks for an informed debate. It's a shame that for the most part the mainstream has drowned this out under a cacophony of atrocity propaganda."
--Morning Star
"The book repeatedly denies any intention of trying to build support for Hamas, but the conversations offer a comprehensive picture--with a wealth of supporting detail--of Hamas"
--Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
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