I think these ideas are well meaning, and parts are good, but it is maybe a little bit paternalistic towards the palestinians, none of your steps seem to involve asking (although part of that is in the nature of ‘suggest a solution’ type questions). Maybe they can vote on the tax haven and gaudy tourist attractions.
I think you have pattern matched Hamas to religious fundamentalism, and are imagining them a bit like the Taliban. I dont know if this characterisation is correct. I feel like they are primarily a nationalist thing, not a religious one. Like, most people fighting for american independence were presumably christian, but that wasnt the point. And my guess is that is how Hamas see and bill themselves.
And my guess is that is how Hamas see and bill themselves.
And your guess would be completely, hopelessly wrong. There is an actual document called “The Covenant of Hamas” written in 1988 and updated in 2017, which you can read here, it starts with
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad, the Master of Messengers and the Leader of the mujahidin, and upon his household and all his companions.
… so, uh, not a good start for the “not religious” thing. It continues:
1. The Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” is a Palestinian Islamic national liberation and resistance movement. Its goal is to liberate Palestine and confront the Zionist project. Its frame of reference is Islam, which determines its principles, objectives and means.
In the document they really seem to want to clarify at every opportunity that yes, indeed they are religious at the most basic level, and that religion impacts every single aspect of their decision-making. I strongly recommend that everyone here read the whole thing, just to see what it really means to take your religion seriously.
The 2017 version has been cleaned up, but in the 1988 covenant you also had this gem:
> The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.’ (Article 7)
>The HAMAS regards itself the spearhead and the vanguard of the circle of struggle against World Zionism… Islamic groups all over the Arab world should also do the same, since they are best equipped for their future role in the fight against the warmongering Jews.′
Yes, it is paternalistic. Part of my point was that the situation in Gaza is so dire in terms of life quality and radicalization that a dystopian colonial social engineering project would be almost humane in comparison. This is where the great challenge lies—how to ascertain that after Hamas is eliminated (and it must be; after October 7th Israel will not rest until it’s gone), Gazans won’t promptly create its sequel.
But yeah, everything past the deradicalization stage is just a suggestion, and if it’s successful, Gazans get to choose the direction of their economy.
I think these ideas are well meaning, and parts are good, but it is maybe a little bit paternalistic towards the palestinians, none of your steps seem to involve asking (although part of that is in the nature of ‘suggest a solution’ type questions). Maybe they can vote on the tax haven and gaudy tourist attractions.
I think you have pattern matched Hamas to religious fundamentalism, and are imagining them a bit like the Taliban. I dont know if this characterisation is correct. I feel like they are primarily a nationalist thing, not a religious one. Like, most people fighting for american independence were presumably christian, but that wasnt the point. And my guess is that is how Hamas see and bill themselves.
And your guess would be completely, hopelessly wrong. There is an actual document called “The Covenant of Hamas” written in 1988 and updated in 2017, which you can read here, it starts with
… so, uh, not a good start for the “not religious” thing. It continues:
In the document they really seem to want to clarify at every opportunity that yes, indeed they are religious at the most basic level, and that religion impacts every single aspect of their decision-making. I strongly recommend that everyone here read the whole thing, just to see what it really means to take your religion seriously.
The 2017 version has been cleaned up, but in the 1988 covenant you also had this gem:
> The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: ‘O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.’ (Article 7)
>The HAMAS regards itself the spearhead and the vanguard of the circle of struggle against World Zionism… Islamic groups all over the Arab world should also do the same, since they are best equipped for their future role in the fight against the warmongering Jews.′
Yes, it is paternalistic. Part of my point was that the situation in Gaza is so dire in terms of life quality and radicalization that a dystopian colonial social engineering project would be almost humane in comparison. This is where the great challenge lies—how to ascertain that after Hamas is eliminated (and it must be; after October 7th Israel will not rest until it’s gone), Gazans won’t promptly create its sequel.
But yeah, everything past the deradicalization stage is just a suggestion, and if it’s successful, Gazans get to choose the direction of their economy.