by Khaled Hroub
Pluto Press
3/20/2025, paperback
SKU: 9780745350875
Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement) was created in 1987, won the elections of the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006, and governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. The attacks on October 7th 2023 and the subsequent war on Gaza have turned the international spotlight on them as well as on Palestine. What then are Hamas's history, beliefs and political agenda? This is an indispensable introduction to the controversial political, social, religious and military organization.
Looking beyond the caricatures of Hamas's leaders and cadre, Palestinian writer Khaled Hroub reveals a group largely guided by pragmatic aims. Asking the reader to re-think what they know, he provides the key facts missing from news reports, and an incisive analysis of their relationship with Israel and the West.
This third edition of the popular guide is fully updated, including a new introduction and chapters on Hamas and the Arab Spring, Donald Trump's 'Deal of the Century', and the events of October 7th.
Reviews:
"This short, timely introduction provides a history of the movement, a rundown of key policies and sketches of key figures" - Guardian
"This book could not be timelier. Drawing on his deep understanding of politics and religion in Palestine, Hroub expertly answers every important question about Hamas" - James Piscatori, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies
"A very useful summary of the Hamas movement's origins, evolution, and key positions. The book's question-and-answer format yields clear and concise positions, and Hroub deftly expands on these as he explains the nature of Hamas' discourse on resistance, its views of Israel, what he sees as religious and nationalistic currents in Hamas, the problematic language of its Charter, association with suicide bombings, and the impact on Palestinians of Fatah's and Hamas' polarisation" - CHOICE
About the About:
Khaled Hroub is a Palestinian, born in a refugee camp in Bethlehem. He is currently Professor in Residence of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwestern University in Qatar and former director of the Arab Media Project at Cambridge University. He is the author of numerous books including Hamas: A Beginners Guide. His articles have been published in Open Democracy, Middle East Journal, and The New Arab, among many others.