Hamas, understanding the organization

Military Review,  July-August, 2003  by Youssef H. Aboul-Enein

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The Al-Askary (Military) Apparatus. Sheikh Ahmed Yasin, the spiritual founder of Hamas, proposed the need to establish a military wing that would reach beyond organizing strikes and orchestrating street violence. He gave the task to Sheikh Salaah Muhammad Shehaada, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on 23 July 2002. Shehaada had organized the first military cell, called Al-Mujahiddon Al-Filasteeneen (the Palestinian Mujahideen). The book lacks details on this event, but it does say that Fatah militants released from Israeli jails were recruited to form the organization's military wing. Shehaada proposed the establishment of 12 military groups, each consisting of three to five people geographically dispersed throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In addition to the 12 groups, five groups were held in reserve in case a cell was discovered. The groups were trained in firearms, demolitions, kidnapping, and suicide missions. Each cell carried out one military operation a month, allowing Hamas to undertake 12 operations a year, giving each cell a 1-year rotation to plan, train, rehearse, and recruit for an operation. The group conducted training on purchased land with underground training sites and firing ranges.

When the group first solicited funding from outside sources, funding was initially denied because of the fear that Israel would conduct a retaliatory strike after the group's first mission was carried out. This created a source of tension between Al-Falooji and the foreign government representative who was sent to discuss the formation of a military apparatus.

Al-Falooji highlights four major objectives of the armed wing of Hamas:

* To conduct painful strikes within Israel to ensure the Israeli government knows there are consequences to attacking Palestinian civilians.

* To conduct military operations to attract the attention of the world and the United Nations to force a solution to the Palestinian problem.

* To conduct strikes to raise the morale of the Palestinian people and to assert its authority on the street.

* To conduct military strikes against the Israeli people to send the message that they have no place in Palestine and that they cannot easily attain the security they desire.

These goals define the types of targets Hamas would engage through suicide operations, guerrilla action, and terror campaigns.

The Ansar (Helpers) Apparatus. The Helpers Apparatus is best described as Palestinians who are not full members of llamas but who can participate and assist in the movement's activities. Al-Falooji details three conditions to become a Helper of Hamas:

* Be supportive of Hamas doctrine and goals.

* Follow Islamic conduct and ideals.

* Undergo a security check to ensure the candidate is serious about becoming a member of the Helpers group.

Members of the Helpers eventually merge into the main membership. The main recruiting grounds for Helpers are high schools, colleges, and unions. Al-Falooji does not give details about how Helpers are given full membership, except that there was tension between the Helpers and full Hamas members until the issue of equality was resolved.