Unraveling the Complexities of the Israel-Palestine Conflict: A Closer Look at HAMAS and Its Impact

Due to the sudden and violent outburst in war around Israel and Palestine, many have heard about the war and the potential consequences it may hold for the U.S and the future of the countries involved. These new militants that are fighting currently have been at

each other's throat for close to 20 years now and it has just hit the boiling point. Whether this situation can be boiled down to a group of radical militants

who are hellbent on the destruction of Israel. Or it could be a group of people that have grown tired of their lands and rights being taken away to a neighboring country.

Hamas is a militant group that formed in 1987 and became a large political movement after their violent capture of Gaza and political victory in the vote held in 2006. This group advocates for the complete destruction of Israel, and has grown tired of foreign intervention held in favor of Israel. Most people believe that Hamas has the support of the Palestinian government but they don’t. The Palestinian government has little to no control of Hamas due to the aforementioned 2006 votes that caused the two parties in the Gaza strip (Hamas, and Fatah) to have a bloody fight over the territory leaving 161 dead and 700 wounded.

Hamas has claimed that Israel is an illegitimate state and has called for its destruction. While this is the political reasoning, the actual reason for resentment for Israel is most likely much more personal. In the Six Day War in 1967, Israel took some Palestinian land during the war. Israel to this day has not returned the land taken during the war and has since put up large walls to separate the borders for the safety of either side. Israel also had immigrants moving into the Palestinian territories and setting up camps, angering Palestinians more. Hamas has taken these incidents and how NATO did nothing to stop the Isaelis from moving into their land and has a deep hatred towards Israel and distrust for western intervention.

Overall, both sides of the war have made mistakes and neither side is truly in right for what is happening. Whether it be for the Hamas militants and their belief that their land should be given back, the way that they have been trying to do that is morally wrong. They have committed a large amount of war crimes such as mass executions, and massacres, as well as holding captives for ransom. This does not justify Israel either though as they began these problems with the Palestinians by overstepping where

they should be and their constant harassment of Palestinian groups. While both have their own goals in this war, this is another area we should not intervene. The U.S is not needed in the conflict. It is best we stay out and not escalate it more than it already has progressed.

HAMAS had about 30,000 men as the war started. A Lot of the weapons Hamas uses include: IED (improvised explosive devices), short- and long-range rockets systems, and mortars, small arms like AK’s, Dushkas RPK, technical's (truck with heavy machines), para gliders, kidnapping operations, rocket-propelled grenades, man-portable air defense

systems, anti tank missiles, and unmanned aircraft systems (Drones), in attacks against Israeli military forces and civilians, as well as against ISIS and other Salafist armed group members based in Gaza. Hamas also uses cyber espionage and computer network exploitation operations and they mostly use guerrilla tactics in combat, Here is a video explaining it more detail.

Written By: Manny Motto and Owen Doyle