Emphasis on armed struggle… Criticism of attacks on civilians
38 North: “Hamas brought in North Korean weapons through Iran”
The name of Hamas, the Palestinian armed group that carried out surprise attacks on Israel, comes from the Arabic abbreviation for ‘Islamic resistance movement.’ It was founded by Ahmed Yassin during the first civil uprising (Intifada) against Israeli oppression in 1987 and has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007.
Hamas is strongly dissatisfied with the moderate path of the Palestine Liberation Movement (PLO), which governs the West Bank, and is gaining support from extremist residents. He attaches great importance to armed struggle, including terrorism, and does not hesitate to attack civilians. Accordingly, it was designated as a terrorist organization by major Western countries such as the United States and the European Union (EU). Yassin was assassinated in an Israeli attack in 2020.
Hamas is also related to North Korea. In 2014, 38 North, an American media outlet specializing in North Korea, raised the possibility of a ‘triangular deal’ in which North Korea’s conventional weapons flowed into Hamas via Iran. Both Hamas, which needs weapons, and North Korea, which is desperate for money, use Iran as an intermediary to fill each other’s shortcomings. Iran also diagnosed that it is actively supporting this to expand its influence in the Middle East.
The Gaza Strip, the base of Hamas and where this attack began, was originally Egyptian territory and was occupied by Israel during the ‘Six-Day War’ in 1967. As of last year, about 2.4 million people lived in an area of about 365㎢, similar to Sejong City, making it the highest population density in the world.
Israel closed Jewish settlements and withdrew its citizens and troops from the area in accordance with the 2005 peace agreement. However, since Hamas came to power in 2007, constant conflict has continued, and Israel is implementing a strong blockade policy, controlling the entry of daily necessities and restricting the movement of residents by building high walls in all three directions except the western side facing the Mediterranean Sea. If even one member of the family has a history of arrest, a pass to leave the Gaza Strip will not be issued. This is why the Gaza Strip is nicknamed ‘the world’s largest prison without bars, with only the sky open’.
Some say that Hamas, which has been cornered by Israel’s extreme blockade and oppression, is now fighting back with a ‘counter-fire operation’. The two sides have engaged in several large-scale armed conflicts, and due to Israel’s overwhelming military superiority, most of the damage has been concentrated on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The ‘Qassam’ rocket used by Hamas in this attack was named after Izz al-Din al-Qassam, an Islamic cleric who led an anti-British and anti-Jewish armed struggle in British Palestine in the 1930s. The official name of the armed group run by Hamas is also ‘Qassam Brigade’.
Cairo =
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.