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The land of three religions. Why are Israel and Hamas fighting?

Before you get to know the reasons as to why Israel and Hamas are fighting, there are some key points that you should keep in mind about Hamas, Israel and the land of three religions to get a clear perspective of the everyday skirmishes between the two. 

The land of three religions.

Jerusalem is the land to some of the holiest sites of Jews, Muslims and Christianity faiths.

In Jerusalem sit three major holy sites are :-

• The Western Wall – The holiest site in the world for Jews is a part of the temple that was built by Jews between 587 B.C. and A.D. 70 Jewish hold the belief that when the Messiah comes, the temple will be rebuilt.
• The Church of the Holy Sepulchre – The place where Jesus preached, died and was resurrected. Many also see the city as central to an imminent Second Coming of Jesus.
• The Al-Aqsa mosque – The third holiest site in the world for Muslims. According to traditional interpretations of the Koran and other texts, the prophet Muhammad while doing Hijrat (holy walk) from Mecca to Jerusalem stopped at Al-Aqsa performed holy prayer with the spirits of all other prophets before him until the 16th month before ascending into Heaven to Allah.

What is Hamas? Is Hamas a country?

Hamas is not a country but the de-facto ruling government authority of Gaza Strip which came into power after winning the 2006 Palestinian legislative election.

Hamas was established by the “Muslim Brotherhood” in 1987 during the “First Intifada” founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

Currently, Hamas is led by Ismail Abdel Salam Ahmed Haniyeh, who heads the group’s political wing. Hamas is categorised as a “nationalist” organisation working towards a free Palestine by the Arab world.

Hamas and Israel have engaged in several wars of varying intensity following the 2006 legislative elections. The most prominent of these wars were the 2007 “Battle of Gaza” and “Operation Cast Lead” in January 2009.

Why is Hamas termed as a terrorist organisation?

The most significant reasons for Hamas being termed as a terrorist organisation is its resort to militancy in order to free Gaza and the West Bank and to make Palestine Islamic State. The Core principles of “Hamas Covenant 1988” and its interpretation of “Jihad”.

Excerpt from Hamas Covenant 1988

Goals of the HAMAS: “The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.” (Article 6)

On the destruction of Israel:“Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” (Preamble)

Two years after Operation Cast Lead, Hamas rapidly upgraded its rocket arsenal. It now has thousands of rockets of various ranges, both standard and homemade, including rockets which can reach the center of Israel.

Most of the arsenal is received from countries to the east and west of Gaza Strip.

In 2018 the U.N. rejected a U.S. resolution condemning Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Occupying Sheikh Jarrah.

After winning “the six day war” in 1967 Israel regained control of Jerusalem, it then passed a law which allowed Jewish families to reclaim their property lost to Jordanian or British authorities prior to 1967 by providing a proof of ownership.

In 1982, Jewish settlers sued the Palestinian families who lived in Sheikh Jarrah categorising them as illegal occupants.

The Magistrate Court ruled that the Palestinian families were unable to prove their ownership of the property, but would be able to continue living on the property as long as they paid rent and maintained the property.

In 1993 the Jews based on court orders, started relocating Palestinians from the land based on their non-payment of rent and of illegal changes to the property.

The legal suits saw 43 Palestinians moved out of the predominantly Muslim neighbourhood in 2002 followed by more between 2008 and 2017. The most recent case, due to be heard in the Supreme Court, seeks to relocate forty more families from the contested neighbourhood.

Crackdown at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The crackdown at Al-Aqsa on 27th day of Ramadan, one of the holiest days of the month, was a result of the protest by around 80,000 Palestinian Muslims against the occupation of Sheikh Jarrah by Jews settlers.

Palestinian fear that this is part of a larger plan to capture the old city and take control over East Jerusalem.

After Friday prayers, Palestinians at the mosque began their own demonstration, raising both Palestinian and Hamas flags

Israeli forces used tear gas, stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse worshippers at the mosque. Hundreds were injured and hospitalised, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Timeline of escalation in the last few days?

Monday, 10 May: Up until 11:30 pm, approximately 150 rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip into Israeli towns and cities, including Jerusalem.

In the initial barrage of over 150 rockets, two residents of the city of Ashkelon were killed and dozens were injured.

Tuesday, 11 May: According to the IDF, up until 7:30 pm on Tuesday, approximately 480 rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory, including the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

In response, the IDF struck a number of significant targets and operatives across the Gaza Strip, including a building that housed the organization’s military intelligence and Judea and Samaria headquarters.

The IDF also struck another building that housed the headquarters of the organization’s intelligence unit, the Hamas Judea and Samaria headquarters, its Public Relations department and the Gaza Brigade.

Prior to the strike, the IDF provided advance warning to civilians in the building and provided sufficient time for them to evacuate the site.

Wednesday, 12 May: In continuation of the overnight attacks, earlier this morning the IDF completed a wave of strikes, several senior operatives were killed in the attack, including Hassan Kaogi, Head of the Hamas Military Intelligence Security Department and his deputy Wail Issa, Head of the Military Intelligence Counter Espionage Department.

Thursday, 13 May: According to the IDF, by midnight approximately 1500 rockets had been launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory.

Approximately 350 rockets failed to launch properly and fell in the Gaza Strip, causing destruction and injuries to the local population. The Iron Dome Aerial Defense System intercepted hundreds of rockets.

Overnight the IDF continued to attack Hamas strategic position, and by early morning reported that it had hit over 600 terror targets, including the terror infrastructure located in the residence of a Hamas Battalion Commander.

Riots between Israeli Arabs and Jews continue in cities across the country, raising alarming signals of a “Civil War”.

Monday, 17th May: Ten people, including two children, have been killed in rocket attacks on Israel since Monday, Israel said. The overall death toll in Gaza now stands at 197 people, including 58 children and 34 women, with 1,235 injured, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. (BBC)

Friday, 21st May: After 11 days of campaign, a ceasefire was agreed upon by both Israeli and Hamas Forces.

More updates regarding this escalation will be added as soon as they appear.

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