Hamas Is Not the Victim: What Anti-Israel Protesters Need to Know

Hamas Is Not the Victim: What Anti-Israel Protesters Need to Know

In Gaza, ordinary people struggle for clean water, electricity, and basic food—while Hamas leaders live in luxury. Hamas claims to champion Palestinian rights, yet its governance inflicts suffering on the very people it purports to defend.

The Hamas Charter of 1988 frames the conflict with Israel as a religious war, declaring all of historic Palestine an Islamic endowment that cannot be surrendered. Islam is its guiding principle, and jihad—the “holy struggle”—is presented as the only path to liberation. Peace talks and international negotiations are dismissed as meaningless; only armed resistance, the charter insists, can deliver Palestinian rights.

Hamas situates itself within the broader Muslim Brotherhood movement, urging Muslims worldwide to join the fight against Zionism. While it nominally allows coexistence with other Abrahamic faiths under Islamic rule, the charter is clear: only Islamic sovereignty is legitimate. Its opposition to Israel is absolute, existential, and uncompromising.

Hamas’s true character has become evident since it seized Gaza in 2007.

Corruption and Privilege

Despite pledging reform, leaders quickly embraced the same corruption they once condemned. They amassed wealth, acquired luxury homes, and distributed resources to loyalists—while ordinary Gazans endure poverty.

Suppressing Dissent

Hamas maintains control through intimidation, imprisonment, torture, and even execution of critics. Freedom of speech is virtually nonexistent; journalists and activists face severe reprisals for speaking out.

Diverting Aid and Terror

Humanitarian aid intended for civilians is often redirected to military projects—from tunnels to weapons. Hamas’s record of terrorism, including attacks killing civilians, is well-documented. Its use of human shields and targeting of civilians constitutes war crimes under international law.

The hypocrisy is undeniable.

Hamas preaches justice and Palestinian welfare, yet it has made Gaza a place of fear, corruption, and endless conflict. Its ideology may inspire headlines, but its rule brings suffering—and any honest understanding of the Israeli-Gaza/Palestinian struggle prior to and since 7 October 2023 must start there.