By Dr. David Matsanga in London
This is a subject that many might hesitate to delve into. From the outset, I want to make it clear that I abhor violence from any side. Some readers may not be aware that there exists a peaceful Palestine coexisting with Israel.
I intend to present the facts regarding the origins of Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to help readers form a more informed perspective on the Israel-Palestine issue. It’s crucial to differentiate between facts and fiction, as a great deal of emotional reasoning clouds media discourse, leading to the loss of many essential facts related to the conflict.
I want to emphasize that historical injustices are well-documented. Which side one chooses to support is not the focus here. My aim, as a scholar discussing the current crisis, is to exercise my right to express my opinion and sentiments. You can agree or disagree, but the ultimate goal is peace in the Middle East.
It would be a historical oversight to ignore critical facts, such as the existence of two types of Palestinians. The two Palestinian entities are the PLO (Fatah), the original PLO that advocated for peaceful nation-building in Palestine, based in Ramallah, where harmony prevails with no wars.
On the other hand, we have Hamas (Ḥarakat al-Muqāwamah al-Islāmiyyah), which chose to oppose the PLO, resulting in the deaths of many PLO fighters and their separation. In English, Hamas stands for the Islamic Resistance Movement and is based in Gaza, a hotbed of the conflict.
I want to reiterate my abhorrence of violence from either side, whether it’s Hamas or Israel. Having witnessed violence in my own home country, I stand for peace.
The world must urgently seek a solution to this conflict. Unfortunately, the United Nations often intervenes too late, accomplishing too little after lives have been lost. The root causes of Middle East violence must be identified and resolved through peaceful means.
As mentioned earlier, there exists a peaceful Palestine in Ramallah. I aim to examine the violations committed by Hamas in Gaza against known Palestinian, Arab, and international (UN) laws, which were designed to facilitate a two-state solution.
It’s crucial to note that Hamas is not a member of the PLO and does not endorse the PLO Charter for peace (as amended in 1988). Hamas does not represent Palestinians; it is a faction.
In 2007, Hamas carried out a violent coup, massacring 450 Fatah Palestinians, expelling the Palestinian Authority (PA), and taking control of the Gaza Strip. Since then, the Palestine Authority has boycotted Hamas.
Furthermore, the Arab League has repeatedly endorsed, by consensus, the land-for-peace initiative with Israel, most recently in 2023, with the majority of its 22 member states, including Palestine, voting in favor. Hamas has consistently rejected this Arab League plan and maintains that violence is the only path to liberate Palestine from the River to the Sea.
Various moderate Arab entities have attempted to broker peace. The Arab League in 1964, the Organization of Islamic States in 1970, the UN General Assembly in 1974, and Israel in 1993 all recognized the PLO as the “sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.”
Crucially, the Arab League, PLO, and UN Security Council, through resolutions 1397 and 1515, have all endorsed the two-state solution. Hamas, however, rejects these resolutions and remains committed to the annihilation of Israel.
The truth is that Hamas is an outlawed organization, much like Boko Haram in Nigeria or Al-Shabaab in Somalia. It has been responsible for massacres of Palestinians in 2007 and Israelis in 2023, leading to Gaza’s isolation by the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, and Israel.
The current suffering and loss of life on both sides is deeply regrettable. To resolve this conflict, it’s imperative to separate fact from fiction.
In my opinion, to achieve peace for the people of Gaza and Palestinians, as well as Israelis, the radicalism and fanaticism of Hamas must be addressed. Israel, in self-defense, must adhere to international laws in its actions.
Finally, both sides must dismantle radical elements that hinder the spirit of dialogue for a peaceful Middle East. Countries supporting terrorism and arming terrorists worldwide must be isolated by the international community.
Let peace be restored through dialogue.
God bless.
About the Author:
Dr. David Matsanga is a Pan Africanist based in London, a political scientist, and an expert in international relations. He has studied conflict resolution and is a member of the Royal African Society (RAS). Dr. Matsanga is the Founder and Chairman of Pan African Forum (UK) Ltd. You can follow him on Twitter @MatsangaDr.
