186-531: The Islamic Resistance Movement , abbreviated Hamas (an Arabic acronym from Arabic : حركة المقاومة الإسلامية , romanized : Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah ), is a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islamist political organisation with a military wing called the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades . It has governed the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip since 2007. The Hamas movement
372-413: A new charter that supported a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders without recognizing Israel. Hamas's repeated offers of a truce (for a period of 10–100 years) based on the 1967 borders are seen by many as being consistent with a two-state solution , while others state that Hamas retains the long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine . While the 1988 Hamas charter
558-670: A "clash with the enemies", a "struggle against Zionism" and "conflict with Israel". They wrote that 'Palestine', that is all of the territory that belonged to the British Mandate for Palestine (that is, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea ), should be "liberated" from " Zionism " and transformed into an Islamic Waqf (Islamic charitable endowment ) in which "followers of all religions can coexist in security and safety". Practically speaking, Hamas
744-409: A 10-year truce, or hudna , to Israel, contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin indicated that such truce could be extended for 30, 40, or even 100 years, but it would never signal a recognition of Israel. A Hamas official explained that having an indefinite truce with Israel doesn't contradict Hamas's lack of recognition of Israel, comparing it to
930-545: A Jew takes my home and expels me from it, I will fight him. I don't fight other countries because I want to be at peace with them, I love all people and wish peace for them, even the Jews. The Jews lived with us all of our lives and we never assaulted them, and they held high positions in government and ministries. But if they take my home and make me a refugee like 4 million Palestinians in exile? Who has more right to this land? The Russian immigrant who left this land 2000 years ago or
1116-790: A Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza . Yassin later added, the hudna could be renewed, even for longer periods, but would never signal a recognition of Israel. In 2005, Hamas signed the Palestinian Cairo Declaration , which confirms "the right of the Palestinian people to resistance in order to end the occupation, establish a Palestinian state with full sovereignty with Jerusalem as its capital" (etc.), aiming to reconcile several Palestinian factions but not describing specific steps or strategies towards Israel. In March 2006, after winning an absolute majority in
1302-646: A Palestinian state on all of the territory that belonged to the British Mandate for Palestine (that is, from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea ). In 2006, Hamas signed the Palestinian Prisoners' Document which supports the quest for a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. This document also recognized authority of the President of the Palestinian National Authority to negotiate with Israel. Hamas also signed
1488-541: A ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war , if humanitarian corridors would be opened, and aid would be allowed into Gaza, Hamas would be "ready for political negotiations for a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine". Haniyeh also praised the support of movements in Yemen , Iraq , Syria and Lebanon for the Palestinian struggle. In January 2024, Khaled Mashal , top Hamas leader until 2017 and now heading
1674-494: A co-founder of PIJ, has advocated the idea that jihad is a personal duty. Former PIJ leader Ramadan Shalah expressed the group's reliance on martyrdom as a tactic, stating, "We have nothing with which to repel the killing and thuggery against us except the weapon of martyrdom. It is easy and costs us only our lives [...] human bombs cannot be defeated, not even by nuclear bombs ". During the Second Intifada , Fatah ,
1860-575: A collection of related dialects that constitute the precursor of Arabic, first emerged during the Iron Age . Previously, the earliest attestation of Old Arabic was thought to be a single 1st century CE inscription in Sabaic script at Qaryat al-Faw , in southern present-day Saudi Arabia. However, this inscription does not participate in several of the key innovations of the Arabic language group, such as
2046-435: A corpus of poetic texts, in addition to Qur'an usage and Bedouin informants whom he considered to be reliable speakers of the ʿarabiyya . Arabic spread with the spread of Islam . Following the early Muslim conquests , Arabic gained vocabulary from Middle Persian and Turkish . In the early Abbasid period , many Classical Greek terms entered Arabic through translations carried out at Baghdad's House of Wisdom . By
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#17327660540152232-613: A crackdown on followers of " deviant ideologies " (meaning ISIS and similar groups ). In 2018, members of ISIS in the Sinai "declared war" on Hamas, demanding Hamas release ISIS militants held in Gaza's prisons . Then in 2019, another suicide attack – also attributed to ISIS – directly targeted Gaza Strip police . Three police officers were killed, all three victims were allegedly members of Hamas. Gaza's Security forces responded by arresting ten people whom they suspected were members of
2418-575: A declaration of their intent and a call for others to follow their example. These recordings are usually made against the backdrop of the organizational symbols and often include religious elements. Bombers are typically given disguises, such as Jewish religious clothing , Israeli military uniforms, or tourist clothing, and are instructed to target crowded public places while avoiding security checkpoints. Targets have included shopping centers, public buses, nightclubs, eateries, and places popular with teenagers and children. Final preparations include writing
2604-1081: A dialect of Arabic and written in the Latin alphabet . The Balkan languages, including Albanian, Greek , Serbo-Croatian, and Bulgarian , have also acquired many words of Arabic origin, mainly through direct contact with Ottoman Turkish . Arabic has influenced languages across the globe throughout its history, especially languages where Islam is the predominant religion and in countries that were conquered by Muslims. The most markedly influenced languages are Persian , Turkish , Hindustani ( Hindi and Urdu ), Kashmiri , Kurdish , Bosnian , Kazakh , Bengali , Malay ( Indonesian and Malaysian ), Maldivian , Pashto , Punjabi , Albanian , Armenian , Azerbaijani , Sicilian, Spanish, Greek, Bulgarian, Tagalog , Sindhi , Odia , Hebrew and African languages such as Hausa , Amharic , Tigrinya , Somali , Tamazight , and Swahili . Conversely, Arabic has borrowed some words (mostly nouns) from other languages, including its sister-language Aramaic, Persian, Greek, and Latin and to
2790-608: A faction within Fatah formed after September 2000, emerged during the Second Intifada as a leading group in carrying out suicide attacks. In the early months of 2002, this group was responsible for over half of all suicide attacks, prompting the U.S. State Department to designate it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in March 2002. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades are closely linked to Fatah, with many of its members also being part of
2976-405: A few targeting military objectives. Between 1994 and 2005, suicide bombings killed 735 Israelis and wounded 4,554. The majority of Palestinian suicide bombings targeting Israelis have been carried out by radical Palestinian groups, who often recruit potential bombers from outside their ranks, rather than relying on internal members. In the early 1990s, Islamist organizations such as Hamas and
3162-444: A fifty-year armistice. Neither Washington nor Israel replied. Nuancing sheikh Ahmed Yassin 's statements before 2004 about a hudna (truce) with Israel (see above), Hamas's (former) senior adviser Ahmed Yousef has said (at unknown date) that a " hudna " (truce, armistice) is more than a ceasefire and "obliges parties to use the period to seek a permanent, non-violent resolution to their differences." On 28 June 2006, Hamas signed
3348-432: A group with a high representation among suicide bombers in the Palestinian territories, reportedly said that "Martyrs give us dignity to free ourselves". This reflects the widespread sentiment among Palestinians that daily life in the occupied territories is marked by fear, despair, and constant humiliation, which provoke strong sense of justice and a desire for revenge. Cognitive psychology studies on Palestinians living in
3534-505: A high level of lethality and effectiveness in its attacks, often causing more casualties than other Palestinian groups. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) began conducting suicide attacks between 1994 and 1997. The group's attacks primarily targeted civilians within Israel proper , including Jerusalem. The PIJ was behind the Bus 405 suicide attack in 1989, which killed 16 civilians, and
3720-461: A key test of these theories. He believes these groups thought the bombings would speed up Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank , an assessment shared by other observers and Israeli leaders, which ultimately proved correct. Critics argue that Pape overstates the success of suicide terrorism, and that the link between suicide bombing and foreign occupation is weak, as is the link with
3906-508: A last resort, claiming that peaceful means to regain their homeland have been exhausted. Others argue that universal conscription in Israel blurs the line between civilians and soldiers: since every Israeli citizen has served, is serving, or will serve in the military, they are seen by terrorists as part of the military effort and therefore complicit in the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Another significant motivator for suicide bombers
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#17327660540154092-685: A legitimate actor..." However, Kear goes on to note that without expressly stating it Hamas agreed to respect the Oslo Accords, and by extension Israel's existence: "The signing of the 2007 Mecca Agreement also meant that Hamas had met two of the three stipulations set down by Israel and the Quartet: recognising Israel and respecting all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements." Graham Usher said that while Hamas did not consider Israel to be legitimate, it accepted Israel as political reality. Tareq Baconi explains that Hamas' implicit recognition of Israel
4278-487: A lesser extent and more recently from Turkish, English, French, and Italian. Arabic is spoken by as many as 380 million speakers, both native and non-native, in the Arab world, making it the fifth most spoken language in the world, and the fourth most used language on the internet in terms of users. It also serves as the liturgical language of more than 2 billion Muslims . In 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked Arabic
4464-454: A letter to US President George W. Bush (via University of Maryland 's Jerome Segal ), stating: "We are so concerned about stability and security in the area that we don't mind having a Palestinian state in the 1967 borders and offering a truce for many years", and asking Bush for a dialogue with the Hamas government. A similar message he sent to Israel's leaders. Haniyeh had reportedly proposed
4650-641: A means to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation. In the Battle of Gaza (2007) , Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from rival Palestinian faction Fatah , and has since governed the territory separately from the Palestinian National Authority . After Hamas's takeover, Israel significantly intensified existing movement restrictions and imposed a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip . Egypt began its blockade of Gaza in 2007. This
4836-690: A millennium before the modern period . Early lexicographers ( لُغَوِيُّون lughawiyyūn ) sought to explain words in the Quran that were unfamiliar or had a particular contextual meaning, and to identify words of non-Arabic origin that appear in the Quran. They gathered shawāhid ( شَوَاهِد 'instances of attested usage') from poetry and the speech of the Arabs—particularly the Bedouin ʾaʿrāb [ ar ] ( أَعْراب ) who were perceived to speak
5022-513: A permanent peace agreement. In 2006, Ismail Haniyeh, shortly after being elected as Prime Minister , sent messages both to US President George W. Bush and to Israel's leaders, offering a long-term truce. Neither Israel nor the United States responded. Haniyeh's proposal reportedly was a fifty-year armistice with Israel, if a Palestinian state is created along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. A Hamas official added that
5208-590: A political party if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders. The Associated Press considered this a "significant concession", but presumed that Israel would not even want to consider this scenario following the October 2023 attack. Arabic language Arabic (endonym: اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ , romanized : al-ʿarabiyyah , pronounced [al ʕaraˈbijːa] , or عَرَبِيّ , ʿarabīy , pronounced [ˈʕarabiː] or [ʕaraˈbij] )
5394-535: A political scientist at Al Azhar University , wrote in 2008 that Hamas talks "of hudna [temporary ceasefire], not of peace or reconciliation with Israel. They believe over time they will be strong enough to liberate all historic Palestine." Several more authors have warned around 2020, that, if Israel would accept such a proposal (a Palestinian state "in the territories of 1967" combined with a long-term truce), Hamas would retain its objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine . Hamas originally proposed
5580-559: A potent tactic in asymmetric warfare , designed to instill fear in Israeli society and demonstrate Palestinian resolve. Lacking the ability to directly confront Israel's superior military might, and convinced that negotiations will never lead to the creation of a Palestinian state, a significant part of the Palestinian population sees martyrdom operations as the only means of forcing Israel to meet their demands. Hamas spokesmen claimed that suicide bombings instilled significant fear among
5766-419: A region heavily affected by conflict, many Palestinians are driven by personal losses and seek to avenge the deaths or injuries of close friends or family members. Revenge is a powerful motivator, often expressed during funeral processions and reflected in the personal testimonies of bombers who admit that avenging fallen loved ones was a primary reason for their actions. Interviews conducted by Brym and Araj with
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5952-594: A result, many European languages have borrowed words from it. Arabic influence, mainly in vocabulary, is seen in European languages (mainly Spanish and to a lesser extent Portuguese , Catalan , and Sicilian ) owing to the proximity of Europe and the long-lasting Arabic cultural and linguistic presence, mainly in Southern Iberia, during the Al-Andalus era. Maltese is a Semitic language developed from
6138-462: A script derived from ASA attest to a language known as Hasaitic . On the northwestern frontier of Arabia, various languages known to scholars as Thamudic B , Thamudic D, Safaitic , and Hismaic are attested. The last two share important isoglosses with later forms of Arabic, leading scholars to theorize that Safaitic and Hismaic are early forms of Arabic and that they should be considered Old Arabic . Linguists generally believe that "Old Arabic",
6324-609: A selective process where potential candidates are chosen based on their religious commitment, loyalty, and ability to maintain secrecy. Palestinian groups prefer to identify and approach individuals who have already demonstrated strong ideological alignment. Recruiters often target students and young people in mosques, universities, social activities, and in Israeli prisons. Candidates are scrutinized for their ability to handle psychological pressure, their personal and family backgrounds, and their criminal records. The training for suicide bombers typically lasts from several weeks to months and
6510-475: A senior Hamas member, admitted that he had been trained in Iran to prepare for attacks against Israeli targets. According to Assaf Moghadam, as the mission approaches, candidates typically disappear from their homes and families to avoid detection. They undergo final intensive training and briefings about their specific attack. In the days before the mission, candidates often record a final message, which may include
6696-470: A single language, despite mutual incomprehensibility among differing spoken versions. From a linguistic standpoint, it is often said that the various spoken varieties of Arabic differ among each other collectively about as much as the Romance languages . This is an apt comparison in a number of ways. The period of divergence from a single spoken form is similar—perhaps 1500 years for Arabic, 2000 years for
6882-683: A testament to "Palestinian innovative genius" ( abqariyyat al-ibda' al-filastini ), showcasing their perceived creativity and strategic ingenuity in the ongoing conflict. The first major attack by Hamas occurred on April 13, 1994, at the Hadera bus station suicide bombing , killing five people, as retribution for the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre by Baruch Goldstein in February. A significant escalation in Hamas' suicide bombing campaign followed
7068-517: A tradition in Islam and amplified by Islamist leaders. This glorification has encouraged Palestinians to undertake "martyrdom operations" against Israelis, depicted as acts of bravery in contrast to the perceived cowardice of Westerners, including Israelis, who are seen as reluctant to sacrifice their lives. This belief is echoed in statements by figures like the mufti of Jerusalem, Ekrima Sa'id Sabri , and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh , who have contrasted
7254-476: A two-state solution. Ahmed Yassin , the founder of Hamas, said in a 1988 interview, reacting to accusations that 'Hamas hate Jews': "We don't hate Jews and fight Jews because they are Jewish. They are a people of faith and we are a people of faith, and we love all people of faith. If my brother, from my own mother and father and my own faith takes my home and expels me from it, I will fight him. I will fight my cousin if he takes my home and expels me from it. So when
7440-507: A type of Arabic. Cypriot Arabic is recognized as a minority language in Cyprus. The sociolinguistic situation of Arabic in modern times provides a prime example of the linguistic phenomenon of diglossia , which is the normal use of two separate varieties of the same language, usually in different social situations. Tawleed is the process of giving a new shade of meaning to an old classical word. For example, al-hatif lexicographically means
7626-507: A variety of regional vernacular Arabic dialects , which are not necessarily mutually intelligible. Classical Arabic is the language found in the Quran , used from the period of Pre-Islamic Arabia to that of the Abbasid Caliphate . Classical Arabic is prescriptive, according to the syntactic and grammatical norms laid down by classical grammarians (such as Sibawayh ) and the vocabulary defined in classical dictionaries (such as
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7812-476: A wider audience." In the wake of the industrial revolution and European hegemony and colonialism , pioneering Arabic presses, such as the Amiri Press established by Muhammad Ali (1819), dramatically changed the diffusion and consumption of Arabic literature and publications. Rifa'a al-Tahtawi proposed the establishment of Madrasat al-Alsun in 1836 and led a translation campaign that highlighted
7998-463: A widespread culture of martyrdom , the struggle for national liberation, a drive to seek revenge for the death or injury of a loved one, or a response to the real or perceived humiliation associated with Israeli occupation . The involvement of secular groups like Fatah in organizing suicide attacks indicates that religious fervor is not the sole determinant. Religious motives play a significant role among Palestinian suicide bombers, particularly in
8184-457: A will, performing religious rites, and finalizing operational details. Bruce Hoffman notes that Palestinian suicide bombings have been strategically employed to provoke a response from Israel that can be used for propaganda. Hamas used suicide attacks to provoke an aggressive response from Israel, aiming to present its violence as defensive and superior to that of rival Palestinian groups. This approach seeks to garner international sympathy for
8370-737: Is a Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world . The ISO assigns language codes to 32 varieties of Arabic , including its standard form of Literary Arabic, known as Modern Standard Arabic , which is derived from Classical Arabic . This distinction exists primarily among Western linguists; Arabic speakers themselves generally do not distinguish between Modern Standard Arabic and Classical Arabic, but rather refer to both as al-ʿarabiyyatu l-fuṣḥā ( اَلعَرَبِيَّةُ ٱلْفُصْحَىٰ "the eloquent Arabic") or simply al-fuṣḥā ( اَلْفُصْحَىٰ ). Arabic
8556-590: Is a minimum level of comprehension between all Arabic dialects, this level can increase or decrease based on geographic proximity: for example, Levantine and Gulf speakers understand each other much better than they do speakers from the Maghreb. The issue of diglossia between spoken and written language is a complicating factor: A single written form, differing sharply from any of the spoken varieties learned natively, unites several sometimes divergent spoken forms. For political reasons, Arabs mostly assert that they all speak
8742-459: Is a personal duty ( fard ayn ), rather than a communal obligation ( fard kifaya ). They use the term shaheed (martyr) for suicide attackers, distinguishing these acts from ordinary suicide, which is forbidden in Islam . The term derives from shaheda , meaning "to witness," and refers to those who die bearing witness to their faith. Hamas, in particular, sees martyrdom as a crucial part of Palestinian identity and mobilization, portraying it as
8928-559: Is a sister language rather than their direct ancestor. Arabia had a wide variety of Semitic languages in antiquity. The term "Arab" was initially used to describe those living in the Arabian Peninsula , as perceived by geographers from ancient Greece . In the southwest, various Central Semitic languages both belonging to and outside the Ancient South Arabian family (e.g. Southern Thamudic) were spoken. It
9114-481: Is and was at war with Israel's army (later also attacking Israeli civilians) since the spring of 1989 , initially as part of the First Intifada , a general protest movement that gradually turned more riotous and violent. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin , founder of Hamas, who died in 2004 ( killed by Israel ), has at unreported date offered Israel a ten-year hudna (truce, armistice) in return for establishment of
9300-519: Is attacking a legitimate target." Former Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi , reacting to the 2001 Dolphinarium discotheque massacre , stated that Palestinians "will never approve of the occupation of [their] homeland." Another key motivator for suicide bombers is the desire for revenge, driven by "perceptions of personal harm, unfairness, and injustice, as well as the anger, indignation, and hatred associated with such perceptions". Students from middle-class backgrounds at An-Najah National University ,
9486-478: Is believed that the ancestors of the Modern South Arabian languages (non-Central Semitic languages) were spoken in southern Arabia at this time. To the north, in the oases of northern Hejaz , Dadanitic and Taymanitic held some prestige as inscriptional languages. In Najd and parts of western Arabia, a language known to scholars as Thamudic C is attested. In eastern Arabia, inscriptions in
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#17327660540159672-421: Is considered by some as the first Palestinian suicide attack in Israel. The group's first notable attack occurred on November 11, 1994, when a PIJ member used a bicycle bomb to kill three Israelis. On January 22, 1995, PIJ carried out one of the deadliest attacks in Israeli history with dual bombings at Beit Lid junction , resulting in the deaths 20 Israeli soldiers and 1 civilian. During the initial 21 months of
9858-408: Is credited with establishing the rules of Arabic prosody . Al-Jahiz (776–868) proposed to Al-Akhfash al-Akbar an overhaul of the grammar of Arabic, but it would not come to pass for two centuries. The standardization of Arabic reached completion around the end of the 8th century. The first comprehensive description of the ʿarabiyya "Arabic", Sībawayhi's al - Kitāb , is based first of all upon
10044-472: Is credited with standardizing Arabic grammar , or an-naḥw ( النَّحو "the way" ), and pioneering a system of diacritics to differentiate consonants ( نقط الإعجام nuqaṭu‿l-i'jām "pointing for non-Arabs") and indicate vocalization ( التشكيل at-tashkīl ). Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi (718–786) compiled the first Arabic dictionary, Kitāb al-'Ayn ( كتاب العين "The Book of the Letter ع "), and
10230-416: Is debated. Hamas leaders have emphasized they do not recognize Israel, but indicate they "have a de facto acceptance of its presence". According to some scholars, Hamas accepted the 1967 borders and thus acknowledged the existence of another entity on the other side, implicitly recognizing Israel and "drop[ping] the call for the destruction of Israel from its manifesto." Other scholars believe that Hamas retains
10416-795: Is designed to prepare candidates practically, mentally and spiritually. It begins with rigorous indoctrination, involving classes on specific Quranic and Hadith teachings about martyrdom and the afterlife , as well as exposure to anti-Israeli propaganda. Candidates also undergo spiritual purification through fasting, extensive prayer, and seeking forgiveness for past sins. The process also includes psychological conditioning , with evaluations to ensure candidates are not clinically depressed or suicidal but are genuinely committed. Practical training includes handling and assembling explosive devices, performing detonations, and practicing escape routes, often through simulated missions to ensure familiarity with procedures and equipment. The planning of suicide attacks
10602-573: Is executed with utmost secrecy and strict compartmentalization. This detailed process involves gathering intelligence, procuring weapons—often smuggled from Egypt or Iran—and organizing logistics. The planning is divided into specific roles: organizational leadership sets strategic goals, operators manage the selection and preparation of bombers, and aides handle material acquisition and logistical support. In some cases, foreign countries have been involved in training and planning Palestinian suicide bombings. For instance, after his arrest in 1996, Hasan Salama,
10788-456: Is in contrast to most Israeli political parties who have long opposed the idea of a Palestinian state . The 1988 Hamas charter proclaims that jihad against Jews is required until Judgement Day. The "governing" 1988 charter of Hamas was said, in 2018, to "openly dedicate(s) Hamas to genocide against the Jewish people", referring to the Hamas 1988 charter, article 7. More authors have characterized
10974-574: Is not present in the spoken varieties, but deletes Classical words that sound obsolete in MSA. In addition, MSA has borrowed or coined many terms for concepts that did not exist in Quranic times, and MSA continues to evolve. Some words have been borrowed from other languages—notice that transliteration mainly indicates spelling and not real pronunciation (e.g., فِلْم film 'film' or ديمقراطية dīmuqrāṭiyyah 'democracy'). The current preference
11160-479: Is not the jurisdiction of one faction, nor the government, but a decision for the Palestinian people." Since then until today, spokesmen of Hamas seem to disagree about their attitudes towards Israel, and debates are running as to whether the original 1988 Hamas charter has since March 2006 become obsolete and irrelevant or on the contrary still spells out Hamas's genuine and ultimate goals (see: 1988 Hamas charter, § Relevance ). The March 2006 Hamas legislative program
11346-855: Is official in Mali and recognized as a minority language in Morocco, while the Senegalese government adopted the Latin script to write it. Maltese is official in (predominantly Catholic ) Malta and written with the Latin script . Linguists agree that it is a variety of spoken Arabic, descended from Siculo-Arabic , though it has experienced extensive changes as a result of sustained and intensive contact with Italo-Romance varieties, and more recently also with English. Due to "a mix of social, cultural, historical, political, and indeed linguistic factors", many Maltese people today consider their language Semitic but not
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#173276605401511532-572: Is the third most widespread official language after English and French, one of six official languages of the United Nations , and the liturgical language of Islam . Arabic is widely taught in schools and universities around the world and is used to varying degrees in workplaces, governments and the media. During the Middle Ages , Arabic was a major vehicle of culture and learning, especially in science, mathematics and philosophy. As
11718-500: Is the "seeking retribution for suffering" bomber, which they identified as a major prototype of Palestinian suicide bombers. Palestinian suicide bombings have been interpreted as a political and military strategy rather than acts driven solely by individual motivations. From this perspective, they are viewed as deliberate actions by organised groups under military occupation , aimed at forcing occupiers to withdraw by causing heavy casualties and drawing media attention, or at strengthening
11904-500: Is the financial and social support provided to their families following the attack. Suicide bombers' families often receive substantial cash payments, ranging from $ 1,000 to several thousand dollars, from organizations such as Hamas or the PIJ, and occasionally from external supporters. In 2002, Iraqi president Saddam Hussein reportedly offered up to $ 25,000 to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers. This financial support, combined with
12090-505: Is the promise of rewards in the afterlife, as described in Islamic teachings and various hadiths . These rewards include forgiveness of sins, protection from hell, a crown of glory, marriage to seventy-two virgins ( houris ), and the ability to extend these privileges to seventy relatives. These promises create a strong incentive for individuals to undertake martyrdom, viewing it as a way to trade their limited earthly possessions for
12276-443: Is the strategic military objectives of terrorist organisations: "There is strong evidence that Islamic fundamentalism has not been the driving force behind Palestinian suicide terrorism". According to Pape, suicide bombing is effective: "The main reason that suicide terrorism is growing is that terrorists have learned that it works". He argues that the suicide campaigns by Hamas and Islamic Jihad against Israel in 1994-1995 provide
12462-590: Is the variety used in most current, printed Arabic publications, spoken by some of the Arabic media across North Africa and the Middle East, and understood by most educated Arabic speakers. "Literary Arabic" and "Standard Arabic" ( فُصْحَى fuṣḥá ) are less strictly defined terms that may refer to Modern Standard Arabic or Classical Arabic. Some of the differences between Classical Arabic (CA) and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) are as follows: MSA uses much Classical vocabulary (e.g., dhahaba 'to go') that
12648-413: Is to avoid direct borrowings, preferring to either use loan translations (e.g., فرع farʻ 'branch', also used for the branch of a company or organization; جناح janāḥ 'wing', is also used for the wing of an airplane, building, air force, etc.), or to coin new words using forms within existing roots ( استماتة istimātah ' apoptosis ', using the root موت m/w/t 'death' put into
12834-524: Is used to denote concepts that have arisen in the industrial and post-industrial era , especially in modern times. Due to its grounding in Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic is removed over a millennium from everyday speech, which is construed as a multitude of dialects of this language. These dialects and Modern Standard Arabic are described by some scholars as not mutually comprehensible. The former are usually acquired in families, while
13020-445: The Lisān al-ʻArab ). Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) largely follows the grammatical standards of Classical Arabic and uses much of the same vocabulary. However, it has discarded some grammatical constructions and vocabulary that no longer have any counterpart in the spoken varieties and has adopted certain new constructions and vocabulary from the spoken varieties. Much of the new vocabulary
13206-541: The 1948 displacement and the Israeli occupation , renders martyrdom a compelling choice. Bombers are also motivated by a desire for revenge, personal pride and honor, and the promise of spiritual and material rewards in the afterlife. Public support for suicide bombers is reflected in cultural practices such as mass funerals, the naming of public spaces after bombers, and promotion through social media, written media, education, and children's programs. Suicide bombings in
13392-464: The 2006 Palestinian legislative elections , Hamas published its government program in which Hamas claimed sovereignty for the Palestinian territories but did not repeat its claim to all of mandatory Palestine , instead declared their willingness to have contacts with Israel "in all mundane affairs: business, trade, health, and labor". The program further stated: "The question of recognizing Israel
13578-920: The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and the PFLP . The majority of suicide bombings targeting Israelis have been organized by Palestinian nationalist groups, initially led by Islamist organizations and then adopted by more secular groups. These organizations typically recruit bombers from outside their own ranks, rather than relying on internal members. Suicide bombs were later used by a smaller number of Palestinians in anti-nationalist groups. Hamas , through its military wing Al-Qassam Brigades , has been responsible for numerous suicide attacks since 1993. The group has conducted more suicide attacks and caused more Israeli casualties than any other Palestinian group. Hamas presents both practical and doctrinal justifications for suicide bombings. Practically, they emphasize
13764-607: The Arab Spring . Hamas and Israel have engaged in protracted armed conflict . Key aspects of the conflict include the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip , the status of Jerusalem , Israeli settlements , borders, water rights, the permit regime , Palestinian freedom of movement , and the Palestinian right of return . Hamas has attacked Israeli civilians, including using suicide bombings , as well as launching rockets at Israeli cities. A number of countries, including Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand,
13950-677: The Cairo Declaration in 2005, which emphasized the goal of ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a Palestinian state. On 2 May 2017, Khaled Mashal , chief of the Hamas Political Bureau , presented a new Charter, in which Hamas accepted the establishment of a Palestinian state "on the basis of June 4, 1967 " ( West Bank , Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem ) acceptable. But the new Charter did not recognize Israel nor relinquish Palestinian claims to all of historical Palestine. Many scholars saw Hamas' acceptance of
14136-673: The Fatah–Hamas Doha Agreement , agreeing (again) to form an interim national consensus government, which (again) did not materialize. Still in February 2012, according to the Palestinian authority (either the Fatah branch in West Bank or the Hamas branch in Gaza), Hamas forswore the use of violence against Israel ("ceasefire", an Israeli news website called it), followed by a few weeks without violence between Hamas and Israel. But violence between Israel and Palestinian militant groups, in
14322-414: The Hamas Political Bureau (thus Hamas' highest leader), again stated that a state "Israel" living next to "a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967" would be acceptable for Hamas – but only if a referendum among "the Palestinian people" would endorse this arrangement. In November 2010, Ismail Haniyeh , also proposed a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, though added three further conditions: "resolution of
14508-617: The Irish Republican Army 's willingness to accept a permanent armistice with the United Kingdom without recognizing the UK's sovereignty over Northern Ireland. Many scholars maintain that Hamas's goal of establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza is an interim solution, while its long-term goal is a single state in all of mandatory Palestine in which Jews live as citizens. Whether Hamas would recognize Israel
14694-502: The Islamic nation " and that "nothing will deter them except for us voluntarily detonating ourselves in their midst". The interchangeable use of terms like "Israeli," "Jew," and "Zionist" underscores a hatred that likely serves as an additional personal motivation for suicide attacks. Since the early 1990s, and particularly with the onset of the Second Intifada, martyrdom has become increasingly glorified among Palestinians , driven by
14880-666: The Palestinian Authority 's security forces. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a secular Marxist–Leninist faction originating from the PLO, carried out a limited number of suicide attacks during the Second Intifada. Under George Habash's leadership, the PFLP's rejection of suicide attacks led to a decline in support. However, after shifting to suicide terrorism and adopting jihadist rhetoric in 2001,
15066-598: The Palestinian Authority . Terrorism scholar Mia Bloom argues that in Israel/Palestine, "the bombings became a method of recruitment for militant Islamic organizations within the Palestinian community. They serve at one and the same time to attack the hated enemy (Israel) and give legitimacy to outlier militant groups who compete with the Palestinian Authority (PA) for leadership of the community". She observes that support for suicide bombings
15252-651: The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) adopted this strategy in response to the Oslo Accords , which had elevated the PLO 's position and sidelined these Islamist groups. During the Second Intifada, suicide attacks against Israel intensified and gained widespread Palestinian support, leading to the development of a martyrdom cult . This led to its adoption by other groups such as the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and Fatah's Tanzim , which sought to leverage
15438-410: The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), leading them to adopt similar procedures for selecting and training suicide bombers. Among Palestinians, suicide bombings are commonly referred to as "martyrdom operations" ( Arabic : عمليات استشهادية , romanized : 'amaliyyāt istišhādiyya ). This term is used by both radical Islamist groups such as Hamas, as well as more secular organizations such as
15624-498: The Palestinian National Authority , said: "We have no problem with a sovereign Palestinian state over all our lands within the 1967 borders, living in calm." In February 2007, Hamas signed the Fatah–Hamas Mecca Agreement , stressing "the importance of national unity as basis for (...) confronting the occupation" and "activate and reform the PLO ", but without further details about how to confront or deal with Israel. At
15810-748: The Palestinian National Council or a general referendum "held in the homeland and the Diaspora". Leila Seurat also notes that this document "implicitly recognized the June 1967 borders, agreed on the construction of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as a capital and accepted limitations to the resistance in the territories occupied in 1967", and was produced following consultations with the entire Political Bureau. In an August 2006 interview with The New York Times , Ismail Haniyeh , senior political leader of Hamas and then Prime Minister of
15996-610: The RAND Corporation found that nearly 60% of suicide bombers recruited by Hamas and Islamic Jihad had education beyond high school, whereas less than 15% of the general adult male Palestinian population did. Additionally, these bombers were significantly less likely to come from impoverished backgrounds compared to their peers. Many Palestinian suicide bombers are motivated by nationalist sentiments, joining groups like Hamas, PIJ, and Fatah to fight perceived injustices and defend their land against what they see as encroachment by
16182-555: The Tamil Tigers primarily targeted military objectives or high-profile civilian figures and employed a specialized unit known as the Black Tigers specifically for these operations. Among Palestinians, suicide attacks are typically followed by demonstrations of support, the distribution of pamphlets, and large funerals attended by hundreds or thousands of supporters. Instead of grieving, families are encouraged to celebrate
16368-568: The Xth form , or جامعة jāmiʻah 'university', based on جمع jamaʻa 'to gather, unite'; جمهورية jumhūriyyah 'republic', based on جمهور jumhūr 'multitude'). An earlier tendency was to redefine an older word although this has fallen into disuse (e.g., هاتف hātif 'telephone' < 'invisible caller (in Sufism)'; جريدة jarīdah 'newspaper' < 'palm-leaf stalk'). Colloquial or dialectal Arabic refers to
16554-494: The northern Hejaz . These features are evidence of common descent from a hypothetical ancestor , Proto-Arabic . The following features of Proto-Arabic can be reconstructed with confidence: On the other hand, several Arabic varieties are closer to other Semitic languages and maintain features not found in Classical Arabic, indicating that these varieties cannot have developed from Classical Arabic. Thus, Arabic vernaculars do not descend from Classical Arabic: Classical Arabic
16740-496: The second version of (originally) 'the Palestinians' Prisoners Document' which supports the quest for a Palestinian state "on all territories occupied in 1967". This document also recognized the PLO as "the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people", and states that "the negotiations" should be conducted by PLO and President of the Palestinian National Authority and eventual agreements must be ratified by either
16926-483: The " Zionist entity ". This sense of injustice associated with the 1948 displacement and the Israeli occupation , drives their willingness to die for their cause. The significance of land and home in Palestinian culture , combined with the feeling of humiliation and frustration, fuels their resolve. Nationalist fervor is also linked to the concept of "national Jihad," which aims to bolster Palestinian identity and pride through "resistance". Suicide bombings are viewed as
17112-495: The "Zionist occupiers". They celebrated the notion that life in Israel had become akin to "hell" and argued that these attacks undermined the Zionist goal of a secure haven for Jews, and led to doubts about Israel's future as well as substantial emigration. Influential Islamic scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi stated that "The Palestinian who blows himself up is a person who is defending his homeland. When he attacks an occupier enemy, he
17298-419: The "learned" tradition (Classical Arabic). This variety and both its classicizing and "lay" iterations have been termed Middle Arabic in the past, but they are thought to continue an Old Higazi register. It is clear that the orthography of the Quran was not developed for the standardized form of Classical Arabic; rather, it shows the attempt on the part of writers to record an archaic form of Old Higazi. In
17484-804: The "purest," most eloquent form of Arabic—initiating a process of jamʿu‿l-luɣah ( جمع اللغة 'compiling the language') which took place over the 8th and early 9th centuries. Kitāb al-'Ayn ( c. 8th century ), attributed to Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi , is considered the first lexicon to include all Arabic roots ; it sought to exhaust all possible root permutations —later called taqālīb ( تقاليب ) — calling those that are actually used mustaʿmal ( مستعمَل ) and those that are not used muhmal ( مُهمَل ). Lisān al-ʿArab (1290) by Ibn Manzur gives 9,273 roots, while Tāj al-ʿArūs (1774) by Murtada az-Zabidi gives 11,978 roots. Palestinian suicide attacks Palestinian suicide attacks , also known as Palestinian suicide bombings , involve
17670-454: The 11th and 12th centuries in al-Andalus , the zajal and muwashah poetry forms developed in the dialectical Arabic of Cordoba and the Maghreb. The Nahda was a cultural and especially literary renaissance of the 19th century in which writers sought "to fuse Arabic and European forms of expression." According to James L. Gelvin , " Nahda writers attempted to simplify the Arabic language and script so that it might be accessible to
17856-477: The 1967 borders as a tacit acceptance of another entity on the other sidewhile others state that Hamas retains the long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine . Hamas has repeatedly offered Israel a hudna , Arabic word for armistice , of varying durations (50 years, even a 100 years). During the hudna both the Israelis and Palestinians would refrain from any violent attacks on
18042-538: The 1980s, it emerged as a powerful political factor, challenging the influence of the PLO , whose Fatah faction it had played a core role in creating. In December 1987, the Brotherhood adopted a more nationalist and activist line under the name of Hamas. Hamas was initially discretely supported by Israel as a counter-balance to the secular PLO . During the 1990s and early 2000s, the organization conducted numerous suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel. In
18228-555: The 1988 charter with those that appear in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion . Hamas has called for the annihilation of Israel, and has stated that to be necessary for creating a pan-Islamic empire. On the other hand, Hamas's 2017 charter removed the anti-Semitic language, saying that their struggle is against Zionism and not Jews, while also advancing goals for a Palestinian state which are seen by many as being consistent with
18414-437: The 1990s and 2000s had an unexpected and severe impact on Israel's home front , profoundly affecting Israeli society and hardening attitudes towards Palestinians as potential peace partners in a two-state solution . The bombings contributed to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon 's decision to construct the West Bank barrier inside and around the West Bank. Since the 1980s, suicide terrorism has emerged in various parts of
18600-571: The 4th to the 6th centuries, the Nabataean script evolved into the Arabic script recognizable from the early Islamic era. There are inscriptions in an undotted, 17-letter Arabic script dating to the 6th century CE, found at four locations in Syria ( Zabad , Jebel Usays , Harran , Umm el-Jimal ). The oldest surviving papyrus in Arabic dates to 643 CE, and it uses dots to produce the modern 28-letter Arabic alphabet. The language of that papyrus and of
18786-779: The 8th century, knowledge of Classical Arabic had become an essential prerequisite for rising into the higher classes throughout the Islamic world, both for Muslims and non-Muslims. For example, Maimonides , the Andalusi Jewish philosopher, authored works in Judeo-Arabic —Arabic written in Hebrew script . Ibn Jinni of Mosul , a pioneer in phonology , wrote prolifically in the 10th century on Arabic morphology and phonology in works such as Kitāb Al-Munṣif , Kitāb Al-Muḥtasab , and Kitāb Al-Khaṣāʾiṣ [ ar ] . Ibn Mada' of Cordoba (1116–1196) realized
18972-420: The Arab and Islamic nation". "We are called a nation of martyrs and we are proud to sacrifice martyrs". Hamad called the creation of the Jewish state "illogical": "(...) We are the victims of the occupation. Therefore, nobody should blame us for the things we do". On 1 November 2023, Ismail Haniyeh , then incumbent highest Hamas leader (but assassinated by Israel 31 July 2024 ), stated that if Israel agreed to
19158-426: The Fatah movement from the Gaza Strip, took control there , and since then Hamas occasionally fired rockets from the Gaza Strip on Israel, purportedly to retaliate Israeli aggression against the people of Gaza. In April 2008, former US President Jimmy Carter met with Khaled Mashal , the recognized Hamas leader since 2004. Mashal said to Carter, Hamas would "accept a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders " and accept
19344-580: The Gaza Strip , killing over 42,000 Palestinians, 52% of them women and children according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. On 31 July 2024, Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran , after attending the inauguration ceremony of Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian . In August 2024, Yahya Sinwar , the leader of Hamas in Gaza, was elected chairman of the group, replacing Haniyeh. Per Hamas officials, he
19530-520: The Gaza Strip , with the aim of securing the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel (as part of a prisoner swap). Hamas said its attack was in response to Israel's continued occupation , blockade of Gaza , and settlements expansion , as well as alleged threats to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the plight of Palestinians. There are also reports of sexual violence by Hamas militants, allegations that Hamas has denied. Israel responded by invading
19716-570: The Gaza Strip and southern Israel, also involving Hamas, would soon resume . On 1 May 2017, in a press conference in Doha ( Qatar ) presenting a new charter , Khaled Mashal , chief of the Hamas Political Bureau (thus acknowledged as to be highest Hamas leader), declared that, though Hamas considered the establishment of a Palestinian state "on the basis of June 4, 1967 " ( West Bank , Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem being not under Israeli reign) acceptable, Hamas would in that case still not recognise
19902-478: The Hamas diaspora office – in contradiction with Haniyeh's proclamation from November 2023 – repeated his stance from 1 May 2017: a (preliminary) Palestinian state "on the 1967 borders", that is "21 per cent of Palestine", would be accepted by Hamas but not as the permanent "two-state solution" which "The West" since a long time envisions and promotes; "our Palestinian project" remains "our right in Palestine from
20088-749: The Lebanese experiment before our eyes... It was a great model of which we are proud." Fathi Shiqaqi , founder of the PIJ, said he developed a plan for "exceptional" martyrdom operations based on Hezbollah's theological justifications. PIJ leader Ramadan Shalah acknowledged that the group's suicide bombings were influenced by Hezbollah's 1983 bombings. Comparing Palestinian bombings to those carried out by other groups highlights several differences in tactics and target selection. Palestinian suicide attacks predominantly aimed at civilians and were often conducted by newly recruited members. In contrast, in Sri Lanka,
20274-412: The Middle East and North Africa have become a badge of sophistication and modernity and ... feigning, or asserting, weakness or lack of facility in Arabic is sometimes paraded as a sign of status, class, and perversely, even education through a mélange of code-switching practises." Arabic has been taught worldwide in many elementary and secondary schools, especially Muslim schools. Universities around
20460-466: The Muslim willingness to die with the Jewish preference for life. Martyrdom brings elevated status in Palestinian society, where honor and dignity are highly valued. This is reinforced by a cult of martyrdom , with martyrs celebrated through posters, leaflets, and large rallies. For many young Palestinians, this glorification offers a path to significant social status and recognition. Another motivator
20646-495: The Muslims fight the Jews and kill them, and until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees when the call is raised: 'Oh Muslim, here is a Jew hiding! Come and kill him.'" The group contends that suicide bombings establish a "balance of fear" ( tawazun ra'b ) against Israel by inflicting significant casualties and psychological distress on Israelis, despite the group's own military limitations. Additionally, Hamas frames these attacks as
20832-663: The PFLP conducted another suicide attack in the settlement of Ariel, injuring 15 people. In 2017 and 2019, during the Sinai insurgency , there were suicide bombings in the Gaza Strip by local ISIS sympathizers. ISIS are a global extremist group, with an ideology that fundamentally opposes the Palestinian nationalism of Hamas and the other groups above. In 2017 two Hamas government border guards were killed while attempting to intercept an ISIS suicide bomber at Rafah Crossing . The Hamas government responded to that bombing with
21018-577: The Palestinian legislative election of January 2006, Hamas gained a large majority of seats in the Palestinian Parliament , defeating the ruling Fatah party. After the elections, conflicts arose between Hamas and Fatah, which they were unable to resolve. In June 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah in a series of violent clashes , and since that time Hamas has governed the Gaza portion of the Palestinian Territories , while at
21204-690: The Qur'an is referred to by linguists as "Quranic Arabic", as distinct from its codification soon thereafter into " Classical Arabic ". In late pre-Islamic times, a transdialectal and transcommunal variety of Arabic emerged in the Hejaz , which continued living its parallel life after literary Arabic had been institutionally standardized in the 2nd and 3rd century of the Hijra , most strongly in Judeo-Christian texts, keeping alive ancient features eliminated from
21390-576: The Romance languages. Also, while it is comprehensible to people from the Maghreb , a linguistically innovative variety such as Moroccan Arabic is essentially incomprehensible to Arabs from the Mashriq , much as French is incomprehensible to Spanish or Italian speakers but relatively easily learned by them. This suggests that the spoken varieties may linguistically be considered separate languages. With
21576-475: The Second Intifada (September 2000 to June 2002), PIJ was responsible for approximately 20% of all successful suicide attacks, killing at least 28 Israelis and injuring 213. The number of attacks by PIJ increased over time, peaking with the Megiddo Junction bus bombing in June 2002, which killed 17 Israelis. The Ideology of the PIJ was influenced by Islamist thinker Sayyid Qutb . Fathi Shiqaqi ,
21762-646: The Tanzim and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades to provide a secular alternative to Islamist groups like Hamas and PIJ. The Tanzim , the armed wing of Fatah, was involved in significant violence, particularly following Ariel Sharon 's visit to the Temple Mount . The Tanzim's first major suicide attack occurred on January 17, 2002, in Hadera , killed six people and wounded 33 at a bat mitzvah children celebration. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades ,
21948-669: The United Kingdom, and the United States have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization . In 2018, a motion at the United Nations to condemn Hamas was rejected. Hamas is an acronym of the Arabic phrase حركة المقاومة الإسلامية or Ḥarakah al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah , meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement". This acronym, HMS, was glossed in the 1988 Hamas Covenant by the Arabic word ḥamās ( حماس ) which itself means "zeal", "strength", or "bravery". Hamas
22134-522: The West Bank and Gaza report that "members of different militant groups often attribute their own violent acts to personal or collective humiliation experienced at the hands of their oppressors". Political scientist Hilal Khashan argues that collective Palestinian frustration, exacerbated by failed peace initiatives and Israel's military dominance, has fostered a suicidal mentality among impoverished Palestinians, particularly in refugee camps , and led to increased support for radical political Islam . In
22320-532: The armistice would renew automatically each time. In mid-2006, University of Maryland 's Jerome Segal suggested that a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and a truce for many years could be considered Hamas's de facto recognition of Israel. A similar proposal was once again offered by Hamas to Israel in November 2006. In November 2008, in a meeting, on Gaza Strip soil, with 11 European members of parliaments, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh re-stated that Hamas
22506-511: The assassination of bombmaker Yahya Ayyash in January 1996. This led to a surge in attacks until late 1997. During the initial 21 months of the Second Intifada (September 2000 to June 2002), Hamas was responsible for approximately 43% of all suicide attacks against Israelis, killing 161 and injuring over 1,100. Ganor writes that from 2000 to 2005, Hamas orchestrated 92 out of 155 total terrorist attacks. Moghadam notes that Hamas has demonstrated
22692-659: The borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the resolution of the issue of refugees," but only if such arrangement would be endorsed by "a referendum" held among all Palestinians: in Gaza, West Bank, and the diaspora. In May 2011, Hamas and Fatah signed an agreement in Cairo , agreeing to form a ('national unity') government and appoint the Ministers "in consensus between them", but it contained no remarks about how to confront or deal with Israel. In February 2012, Hamas and Fatah signed
22878-406: The cell who arranged the attack. Martyrdom among Palestinian suicide bombers is often driven by a combination of religious beliefs, nationalistic sentiment, and personal incentives. Individual motivations for becoming a suicide bomber may stem from various factors, including the desire to attain expected rewards in the afterlife , economic or social benefits for family members, the influence of
23064-574: The conversion of Semitic mimation to nunation in the singular. It is best reassessed as a separate language on the Central Semitic dialect continuum. It was also thought that Old Arabic coexisted alongside—and then gradually displaced— epigraphic Ancient North Arabian (ANA), which was theorized to have been the regional tongue for many centuries. ANA, despite its name, was considered a very distinct language, and mutually unintelligible, from "Arabic". Scholars named its variant dialects after
23250-612: The deaths of their loved ones. Additionally, streets, schools, and public squares are often named in honor of the deceased martyrs. The culture of martyrdom is deeply embedded, evident in various forms including naming sports tournaments after suicide bombers or featuring dramas about figures like the bomb maker Yahya Ayyash . Palestinian organizations have used various methods to promote their activities, including displaying posters of suicide bombers in communities, sharing videos and photos of martyrs on social media, employing imams to incite violence in mosques, integrating such messages into
23436-400: The democratic nature of the occupying countries. They propose alternative explanations, such as the inter-group competition (or "outbidding") theory. The outbidding theory suggests that competing political organisations use suicide bombings to show their commitment to the cause and gain popular support. Unlike Pape's view of suicide bombings as a direct tool of coercion against the state,
23622-439: The elevated social status bestowed upon the family due to the martyrdom of their member, leads to significant improvements in their living conditions and public standing. However, while economic hardship can drive some Palestinians to seek martyrdom, it alone does not fully explain the phenomenon. Economic deprivation has been a long-standing issue, and some suicide bombers come from relatively affluent families. Claude Berrebi of
23808-587: The emergence of Central Semitic languages, particularly in grammar. Innovations of the Central Semitic languages—all maintained in Arabic—include: There are several features which Classical Arabic, the modern Arabic varieties, as well as the Safaitic and Hismaic inscriptions share which are unattested in any other Central Semitic language variety, including the Dadanitic and Taymanitic languages of
23994-728: The eve of the conquests: Northern and Central (Al-Jallad 2009). The modern dialects emerged from a new contact situation produced following the conquests. Instead of the emergence of a single or multiple koines, the dialects contain several sedimentary layers of borrowed and areal features, which they absorbed at different points in their linguistic histories. According to Veersteegh and Bickerton, colloquial Arabic dialects arose from pidginized Arabic formed from contact between Arabs and conquered peoples. Pidginization and subsequent creolization among Arabs and arabized peoples could explain relative morphological and phonological simplicity of vernacular Arabic compared to Classical and MSA. In around
24180-607: The fact that they participate in the innovations common to all forms of Arabic. The earliest attestation of continuous Arabic text in an ancestor of the modern Arabic script are three lines of poetry by a man named Garm(')allāhe found in En Avdat, Israel , and dated to around 125 CE. This is followed by the Namara inscription , an epitaph of the Lakhmid king Imru' al-Qays bar 'Amro, dating to 328 CE, found at Namaraa, Syria. From
24366-481: The families and friends of Palestinian suicide bombers suggest that these individuals do not exhibit higher levels of depression than what is typically observed in the general population. Research by Kimhi and Even identifies four profiles of Palestinian suicide bombers. One type is the "exploited suicide bomber," driven by personal crises or a desire to atone for perceived sins such as extramarital relationships, homosexuality, or cooperation with Israel. Another profile
24552-458: The fourth most useful language for business, after English, Mandarin Chinese , and French. Arabic is written with the Arabic alphabet , an abjad script that is written from right to left . Arabic is usually classified as a Central Semitic language . Linguists still differ as to the best classification of Semitic language sub-groups. The Semitic languages changed between Proto-Semitic and
24738-556: The group as a "significant evolution." The first among them was Reem Riyashi , a young mother of two, who carried out the Erez Crossing bombing in January 2004. Several scholars observed that the recruitment of female suicide bombers by Palestinian groups was driven by the need to bypass Israeli security measures and checkpoint barriers. There have also been reports of Palestinian women who, under psychological or physical coercion, were driven to carry out suicide attacks due to
24924-407: The group's position against rival organisations. Political scientist Robert Pape argues that suicide attacks are not driven by religious fundamentalism , but are a rational strategy used by weaker groups against democratic states to force the withdrawal of troops from occupied territories these groups see as their homeland. While religion can be used as a recruitment tool, the main motivation
25110-500: The group's support levels quickly recovered. Under the leadership of Secretary General Ahmad Sa'adat (2001 to present), the PFLP were responsible for several notable incidents, including the assassination of Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Ze'evi . On February 16, 2002, the PFLP executed a suicide bombing at a mall in Karnei Shomron , resulting in 2 Israeli deaths and 29 injuries. Approximately three weeks later,
25296-459: The harm and deterrence these attacks inflict on Israeli society. Doctrinally, they glorify martyrdom as the pinnacle of jihad and Islamic belief . The old 1988 Hamas Covenant ( revised in 2017 ) articulated the group's goal, stating, "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it". Additionally, Article 7 of the 1988 Covenant declares, "The time [of Redemption] will not come until
25482-597: The inclusion of new words into their published standard dictionaries. They also publish old and historical Arabic manuscripts. In 1997, a bureau of Arabization standardization was added to the Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization of the Arab League . These academies and organizations have worked toward the Arabization of the sciences, creating terms in Arabic to describe new concepts, toward
25668-452: The issue of refugees ", "the release of Palestinian prisoners", and "Jerusalem as its capital"; and he made the same reservation as Mashal in May 2010 had made, that a Palestinian referendum needed to endorse this arrangement. On December 1, 2010, Ismail Haniyeh (senior Hamas leader, see above), in a news conference in Gaza , repeated his November 2010 message: "We accept a Palestinian state on
25854-613: The language. Software and books with tapes are an important part of Arabic learning, as many of Arabic learners may live in places where there are no academic or Arabic language school classes available. Radio series of Arabic language classes are also provided from some radio stations. A number of websites on the Internet provide online classes for all levels as a means of distance education; most teach Modern Standard Arabic, but some teach regional varieties from numerous countries. The tradition of Arabic lexicography extended for about
26040-604: The late 6th century AD, a relatively uniform intertribal "poetic koine" distinct from the spoken vernaculars developed based on the Bedouin dialects of Najd , probably in connection with the court of al-Ḥīra . During the first Islamic century, the majority of Arabic poets and Arabic-writing persons spoke Arabic as their mother tongue. Their texts, although mainly preserved in far later manuscripts, contain traces of non-standardized Classical Arabic elements in morphology and syntax. Abu al-Aswad al-Du'ali ( c. 603 –689)
26226-420: The latter is taught in formal education settings. However, there have been studies reporting some degree of comprehension of stories told in the standard variety among preschool-aged children. The relation between Modern Standard Arabic and these dialects is sometimes compared to that of Classical Latin and Vulgar Latin vernaculars (which became Romance languages ) in medieval and early modern Europe. MSA
26412-816: The long-term objective of establishing one state in former Mandatory Palestine . Mousa Abu Marzook , then the vice-president of Hamas' Political Bureau, explained in 2011, that while Hamas did not recognize Israel as a state, it considered the existence of Israel as " amr waqi " (or fait accompli , meaning something that has happened and cannot be changed). He called this " de facto recognition" of Israel. According to Martin Kear, Israel treats "any form of resistance from Palestinians as acts of terrorism", and therefore responds to any resistance with extraordinary force. In contrast, writes Kear, Hamas operationalizes "...its resistance to Israeli occupation through its invocation of jihad ... Accordingly, Hamas refuses to recognise Israel as
26598-550: The luxurious rewards promised in paradise. Reports indicate that many are convinced of these rewards, which significantly influences their willingness to undertake martyrdom. Reportedly, there has been at least one case of a suicide bomber taking steps, like wrapping toilet paper around their genitals, to preserve their ability to enjoy these rewards. Palestinian media has framed martyrdom in terms of marriage to virgins, further solidifying this expectation. Some Islamic theologians and jurists, including Yusuf al-Qaradawi , who hosted
26784-883: The many national or regional varieties which constitute the everyday spoken language. Colloquial Arabic has many regional variants; geographically distant varieties usually differ enough to be mutually unintelligible , and some linguists consider them distinct languages. However, research indicates a high degree of mutual intelligibility between closely related Arabic variants for native speakers listening to words, sentences, and texts; and between more distantly related dialects in interactional situations. The varieties are typically unwritten. They are often used in informal spoken media, such as soap operas and talk shows , as well as occasionally in certain forms of written media such as poetry and printed advertising. Hassaniya Arabic , Maltese , and Cypriot Arabic are only varieties of modern Arabic to have acquired official recognition. Hassaniya
26970-731: The need for a lexical injection in Arabic, to suit concepts of the industrial and post-industrial age (such as sayyārah سَيَّارَة 'automobile' or bākhirah باخِرة 'steamship'). In response, a number of Arabic academies modeled after the Académie française were established with the aim of developing standardized additions to the Arabic lexicon to suit these transformations, first in Damascus (1919), then in Cairo (1932), Baghdad (1948), Rabat (1960), Amman (1977), Khartum [ ar ] (1993), and Tunis (1993). They review language development, monitor new words and approve
27156-435: The new Hamas stance. On 19 June 2008, Hamas and Israel agreed to a six-month cease-fire, which Hamas declared finished at 18 December amidst mutual accusations of breaching the agreed conditions. Meanwhile, in November 2008, in a meeting with 11 European members of parliaments, Hamas senior official Ismail Haniyeh repeated what he had written in June 2006 to U.S. President George W. Bush but with one extra condition: Hamas
27342-413: The occupation of West Bank and Gaza Strip and release all Palestinian prisoners . But the 1999 proposal omitted two difficult issues: the issue of Palestinian refugees and the recognition of Israel. The idea was that Israel and Hamas would use the period of calm to continue negotiating these two difficult issues until they reached a final peace agreement, at which point the temporary peace would convert into
27528-529: The one who left 40 years ago? We don't hate the Jews, we only ask for them to give us our rights." In its early days , Hamas functioned as a social-religious charity center . Its members armed themselves for the ongoing resistance against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories , and in August 1988 published their first charter in which Hamas stated that "Israel" should be "eliminated" through
27714-424: The one whose sound is heard but whose person remains unseen. Now the term al-hatif is used for a telephone. Therefore, the process of tawleed can express the needs of modern civilization in a manner that would appear to be originally Arabic. In the case of Arabic, educated Arabs of any nationality can be assumed to speak both their school-taught Standard Arabic as well as their native dialects, which depending on
27900-812: The other of responsibility. In late December 2008, Israel attacked Gaza , withdrawing its forces in mid-January 2009. Since 2009, Hamas has faced multiple military confrontations with Israel, notably the 2012 and 2014 Gaza Wars, leading to substantial casualties. Hamas has maintained control over Gaza, often clashing with the Palestinian Authority led by Fatah. Efforts at reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah have seen limited success. Hamas continued to face international isolation and blockades, while engaging in sporadic rocket attacks and tunnel construction activities against Israel. On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked Israel killing nearly 1,200 Israelis, about two thirds of them civilians. Approximately 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers were taken back to
28086-460: The other. Under Islamic international law , a hudna is a binding and the Qur'an prohibits its violation. Hamas's spokesperson, Ahmed Yousef , said that a "hudna" is more than a ceasefire and it "obliges parties to use the period to seek a permanent, non-violent resolution to their differences." Hamas first proposed Israel with a hudna, long-term armistice, in 1999. In exchange Israel would have to end
28272-421: The outbidding theory interprets suicide bombings as a form of "domestic political signaling": a way of sending a powerful political message within one's own political community. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict illustrates this outbidding process, with groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad using suicide bombings to capture the Palestinian imagination and compete for leadership not only with each other but also with
28458-549: The overhaul of Arabic grammar first proposed by Al-Jahiz 200 years prior. The Maghrebi lexicographer Ibn Manzur compiled Lisān al-ʿArab ( لسان العرب , "Tongue of Arabs"), a major reference dictionary of Arabic, in 1290. Charles Ferguson 's koine theory claims that the modern Arabic dialects collectively descend from a single military koine that sprang up during the Islamic conquests; this view has been challenged in recent times. Ahmad al-Jallad proposes that there were at least two considerably distinct types of Arabic on
28644-604: The perceived dishonor they brought upon their families. The influence of Hezbollah , a Lebanese Shia organization, is evident in the suicide attacks conducted by both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Both groups adopted Hezbollah's procedures for selecting and training suicide bombers, including psychological preparation, writing farewell letters, and making videotapes. Khaled Meshal , Hamas's political leader, stated in July 2000, "We always have
28830-443: The presumed multiple number of indirect deaths). A number of conflicting statements since then were made by Hamas senior leaders regarding the Hamas policy towards Israel. On 24 October, Ghazi Hamad —member of the decision-making Hamas Political Bureau —explained the 7 October attack: "Israel is a country that has no place on our land. We must remove that country because it constitutes a security, military and political catastrophe to
29016-517: The primary faction of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) led then by Yasser Arafat , was a major player in the use of suicide terrorism. During the initial 21 months of the Second Intifada (September 2000 to June 2002), Fatah has been responsible for nearly a third of all suicide attacks and became the most active organization in terms of the number of attacks on Israelis. The group's strategy involved leveraging
29202-591: The recruitment practices of groups like Hamas and PIJ , which seek deeply religious individuals. Central to this motivation is the Islamist interpretation of Jihad , which encompasses Jihad al-nafs (the internal struggle for self-control) and Jihad bi al-saif (armed struggle or "holy war"). Islamist groups dismiss the former as heretical and emphasize the latter as the true "Greater Jihad," supporting their view with Quranic verses that equate warfare with religious duty. Hamas and PIJ maintain that jihad in Palestine
29388-410: The region may be mutually unintelligible. Some of these dialects can be considered to constitute separate languages which may have "sub-dialects" of their own. When educated Arabs of different dialects engage in conversation (for example, a Moroccan speaking with a Lebanese), many speakers code-switch back and forth between the dialectal and standard varieties of the language, sometimes even within
29574-411: The right of Israel "to live as a neighbour" if such a deal would be approved by a referendum among the "Palestinians". Nevertheless, Mashal did not offer a unilateral ceasefire (as Carter had suggested him to do). The US State Department showed utter indifference for Mashal's new stance; Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert even refused to meet with Carter in Jerusalem , not to mention paying attention to
29760-458: The same sentence. The issue of whether Arabic is one language or many languages is politically charged, in the same way it is for the varieties of Chinese , Hindi and Urdu , Serbian and Croatian , Scots and English, etc. In contrast to speakers of Hindi and Urdu who claim they cannot understand each other even when they can, speakers of the varieties of Arabic will claim they can all understand each other even when they cannot. While there
29946-441: The same time they were ousted from government positions in the West Bank . Israel and Egypt then imposed an economic blockade on Gaza and largely sealed their borders with the territory. After acquiring control of Gaza, Hamas-affiliated and other militias launched rocket attacks upon Israel, which Hamas ceased in June 2008 following an Egyptian -brokered ceasefire. The ceasefire broke down late in 2008, with each side accusing
30132-410: The sea to the river ", which Hamas will not give up, therefore Hamas will not recognise the legitimacy of "the usurping entity [Israel]". Hamas Member of Parliament Khalil al-Hayya , also deputy chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, told the Associated Press in April 2024 that Hamas is willing to agree to a truce of five years or more with Israel and that it would lay down its weapons and convert into
30318-512: The sea to the river ." In 2022, Yahya Sinwar cautioned Israelis that Hamas would one day "march through your walls to uproot your regime." In a flash attack on 7 October 2023 , Hamas and associates murdered 767 civilians and killed a further 376 security personnel of the state of Israel . Israel retaliated with warfare in the Gaza Strip , aiming at Hamas militants but also harming much civilian infrastructure and directly killing tens of thousands of civilians, as admitted even by Israel (not counting
30504-458: The sole example of Medieval linguist Abu Hayyan al-Gharnati – who, while a scholar of the Arabic language, was not ethnically Arab – Medieval scholars of the Arabic language made no efforts at studying comparative linguistics, considering all other languages inferior. In modern times, the educated upper classes in the Arab world have taken a nearly opposite view. Yasir Suleiman wrote in 2011 that "studying and knowing English or French in most of
30690-498: The standardization of these new terms throughout the Arabic-speaking world, and toward the development of Arabic as a world language . This gave rise to what Western scholars call Modern Standard Arabic. From the 1950s, Arabization became a postcolonial nationalist policy in countries such as Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Sudan. Arabic usually refers to Standard Arabic, which Western linguists divide into Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic. It could also refer to any of
30876-412: The statehood of Israel and not relinquish their goal of liberating all of Palestine from " the Zionist project ". Around 2018, a Hamas finance minister has suggested that a "long-term ceasefire as understood by Hamas [ hudna ] and a two-state settlement are the same". In 2021 Hamas organized and financed a conference among 250 Gaza citizens about the future management of the State of Palestine following
31062-467: The tactic to enhance their own standing. In Palestinian society, suicide bombings are commonly referred to as "martyrdom operations". For many Palestinian suicide bombers, martyrdom represents a fulfillment of religious duty, driven by an Islamist interpretation of Jihad that equates martyrdom with a sacred obligation. This perspective, combined with an animosity toward Jews and a response to perceived national humiliation and injustice associated with
31248-410: The takeover of Israel which was predicted to come soon. According to the conclusions of the conference, the Jewish Israeli fighters would be killed, while the peaceful individuals could be integrated or be allowed to leave. At the same time the highly skilled and educated would be prevented from leaving. In 2020 Ismail Haniyeh said in an interview that one of the principles of Hamas was "Palestine from
31434-500: The terrorists and critique the Israeli reaction, thereby shaping both public opinion and international support. Islamic groups initially excluded women from active participation in suicide bombings. However, this changed during the Second Intifada as groups like the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades began to utilize female suicide bombers . By 2003, Palestinian Islamic Jihad took responsibility for two female bombers. Eventually, Hamas also recognized female martyrs, in what has been described by
31620-432: The time of signing that 2007 agreement, Mousa Abu Marzook , Deputy Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau , underlined his view of the Hamas position: "I can recognize the presence of Israel as a fait accompli (amr wâqi') or, as the French say, a de facto recognition, but this does not mean that I recognize Israel as a state". More Hamas leaders, through the years, have made similar statements. In June 2007, Hamas ousted
31806-501: The towns where the inscriptions were discovered (Dadanitic, Taymanitic, Hismaic, Safaitic). However, most arguments for a single ANA language or language family were based on the shape of the definite article, a prefixed h-. It has been argued that the h- is an archaism and not a shared innovation, and thus unsuitable for language classification, rendering the hypothesis of an ANA language family untenable. Safaitic and Hismaic, previously considered ANA, should be considered Old Arabic due to
31992-423: The ultimate act of jihad and devotion to Islam. Islamist groups often frame violence, including suicide bombings, as a defensive Jihad against perceived threats from Israel and the West. This rhetoric has escalated to calls for violence against Jews more broadly. During the Second Intifada , Sheikh Ibrahim Madhi, in a sermon at the Sheikh Ijlin Mosque in Gaza , declared that the Jews are "the greatest enemies of
32178-438: The use of suicide bombings by Palestinian groups in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict , predominantly targeting Israeli civilians. This tactic is also referred to as Palestinian suicide terrorism . It emerged in the 1990s and reached its peak during the Second Intifada (2000–2005). Attacks occurred at various locations, including shopping centers, public buses, transit stations, cafes, nightclubs, and restaurants, with only
32364-494: The violent language against all Jews in the original Hamas charter as genocidal , incitement to genocide , or antisemitic . The charter attributes collective responsibility to Jews, not just Israelis, for various global issues, including both World Wars. The American Interest magazine has wrote that the charter "echoes" Nazi propaganda in claiming that Jews profited during World War II . Jeffrey Goldberg , editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, has compared statements in
32550-477: The weekly TV show Sharia and Life on Al-Jazeera , have condemned terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda and similar groups, but not Palestinian suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. Yusuf al-Qaradawi argues that Israel is a militarized state that has, since its founding, seized Palestinian land and displaced its people through persecution, torture, and humiliation. He uses the " doctrine of necessity " to justify Palestinian guerrilla warfare and martyrdom operations as
32736-451: The world have classes that teach Arabic as part of their foreign languages , Middle Eastern studies , and religious studies courses. Arabic language schools exist to assist students to learn Arabic outside the academic world. There are many Arabic language schools in the Arab world and other Muslim countries. Because the Quran is written in Arabic and all Islamic terms are in Arabic, millions of Muslims (both Arab and non-Arab) study
32922-490: The world, beginning with high-profile incidents in Lebanon . The first modern attack occurred in the 1981 Iraqi Embassy in Beirut by the Islamic Dawa Party , followed by Hezbollah 's 1983 Beirut barracks bombings . This tactic has since been employed in countries such as India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the UK, the US, and Yemen. Hezbollah's attacks specifically influenced Palestinian groups such as Hamas and
33108-430: Was elected due to his considerable popularity in the Arab and Islamic worlds following the 7 October attacks and his strong connections with Iran and the " Axis of Resistance ," an informal Iranian-led political and military coalition. On 16 October 2024, IDF troops killed Sinwar during a routine patrol and a chance encounter in southern Rafah. Hamas' policy towards Israel has evolved. Historically, Hamas envisioned
33294-420: Was established in 1987, and allegedly has its origins in Egypt 's Muslim Brotherhood movement, which had been active in the Gaza Strip since the 1950s and gained influence through a network of mosques and various charitable and social organizations. Unlike other Palestinian factions, after the Israeli occupation of Gaza in 1967 , the Brotherhood in Gaza refused to join the resistance boycott against Israel. In
33480-463: Was followed by multiple wars with Israel, including those in 2008–09 , 2012 , 2014 , 2021 , and an ongoing one since 2023 , which began with the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel . Hamas has promoted Palestinian nationalism in an Islamic context . While initially seeking a state in all of former Mandatory Palestine it began acquiescing to 1967 borders in the agreements it signed with Fatah in 2005 , 2006 and 2007 . In 2017, Hamas released
33666-449: Was founded by Palestinian Islamic scholar Ahmed Yassin in 1987, after the outbreak of the First Intifada against the Israeli occupation . It emerged from his 1973 Mujama al-Islamiya Islamic charity affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood . In 2006 Palestinian legislative election , Hamas secured a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council by campaigning on promises of a corruption-free government and advocating for resistance as
33852-400: Was further explained on 6 June 2006 by Hamas' MP Riad Mustafa: "Hamas will never recognize Israel", but if a popular Palestinian referendum would endorse a peace agreement including recognition of Israel, "we would of course accept their verdict". Also on 6 June 2006, Ismail Haniyeh , senior political leader of Hamas and at that time Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority , sent
34038-563: Was lower during periods of optimism for peace, such as during the Oslo process and the early PA elections , but as the peace process stalled and the PA's credibility waned, backing for militant groups increased. Bloom concludes that Israeli efforts to weaken the PA unintentionally strengthened more militant groups. She also argues that Israel's targeted killings of terrorist leaders may benefit these groups by creating "nationalist myths, martyrs, and cults of personality". Recruitment for suicide missions by Palestinians groups generally involves
34224-407: Was widely described as antisemitic , Hamas's 2017 charter removed the antisemitic language and said Hamas's struggle was with Zionists , not Jews. It has been debated whether the charter has reflected an actual change in policy. In terms of foreign policy, Hamas has historically sought out relations with Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey; some of its relations have been impacted by
34410-411: Was willing to accept a Palestinian state "in the territories of 1967 " ( Gaza Strip and West Bank ), and offered Israel a long-term truce if Israel recognized the Palestinians' national rights ; and stated that Israel rejected this proposal. A Hamas finance minister around 2018 contended that such a "long-term ceasefire as understood by Hamas and a two-state settlement are the same". Mkhaimer Abusada,
34596-576: Was willing to accept a Palestinian state "in the territories of 1967 " and offered Israel a long-term truce if Israel recognized the Palestinians' national rights – which he said Israel had declined. In September 2009, Ismail Haniyeh , head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip , wrote to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon – like he had told the New York Times in August 2006: "We would never thwart efforts to create an independent Palestinian state with borders [from] June 4, 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital." In May 2010, Khaled Mashal , chairman of
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