A Hamas less contrary

The timing of the Islamic terrorist attacks in Britain and Pakistan could not have been worse for the Palestinian Hamas movement. The last thing that Hamas wants is to be identified with the botched attacks in London and Glasgow, for which Indian doctor brothers Kafeel and Sabeel Ahmed are being blamed, or the Muslim fundamentalist perpetrators of the Lal Masjid carnage in Islamabad, which resulted in more than 100 deaths. True, Hamas is a radical Islamic group that has carried out many atrocities against innocent civilians in Israel. The movement’s suicide bombers have claimed the lives of hundreds of people over the past decade and its ideology continues to promote jihad against the ‘infidels’ and ‘Crusaders’ in the West.

But ever since Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip in mid-June, it has been out to clean up its image and prove to the world that it is possible to do business with the movement. Hamas leaders are now openly calling on the international community to give them a chance to prove that the movement can be a worthy partner in any future settlement to the Israeli-Arab conflict.

To this end, Hamas leaders kept stressing that the main motivation behind June’s coup against Fatah was to end the lawlessness and anarchy in Gaza. However, it was well aware that it was not enough to direct traffic and to crack down on drug dealers and armed gangsters. That’s why Hamas wanted something ‘big’ that would impress the global community and boost its credibility. A day after Hamas assumed control of the Gaza Strip, its leaders issued a warning to the captors of BBC reporter Alan Johnston to release him unconditionally and instantly. Hamas leaders were aware of the fact that a picture with the freed British reporter would improve their image in the West and send out a message that Hamas can deliver. They also knew that his release would serve to undermine the credibility of their rival secular Fatah party. Before fleeing the Gaza Strip, Fatah leaders tried to negotiate a settlement with Johnston’s captors, but to no avail.

Moreover, Fatah’s multiple security services and militias, including preventive security, military intelligence and general intelligence, failed to act against the kidnappers, whose identity was known to many. Hamas’s success in freeing the British reporter may not help the movement in the short-term because there is no chance that the international community will rush to embrace the Islamic movement. But some British and European politicians have already hailed Hamas’s role in freeing Johnston, with some going as far as calling on their governments to recognise Hamas and negotiate with its leaders.

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