The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) released a comprehensive report titled "Hamas's Gaza - Four Years Later" which assesses the situation in Gaza since Hamas took control of the area.
MEMRI explores the Middle East through the region's media, websites, religious sermons, and schoolbooks. MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East, providing translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Pashtu, and Turkish media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, and religious trends. Founded in 1998, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization.
The report is a feature release from MEMRI's Palestinian Media Studies Project. (http://www.memri.org/palestinianmediastudies). The preface of the report is below:
Four years after its takeover of Gaza, in June 2007, Hamas has successfully established an independent entity there, separate from the West Bank. Since the takeover, Hamas has managed to strengthen itself economically (though its resources have been directed more towards reinforcing the movement than towards promoting the wellbeing of the population). It has also managed to consolidate its military strength, and has continued to prepare itself for the next confrontation with Israel. For the time being, however, the movement has found it beneficial to maintain a tahdiah (lull) with Israel, though occasionally the tahdiah is disrupted, not only by other organizations in Gaza but also by Hamas itself.
The Hamas regime in Gaza is a dictatorial one, characterized by numerous violations of human rights. Its policies and draconian rule have caused a drop in its popularity among the public (a fact of which the movement's leaders are aware), but not to the point of threatening its rule.
The movement's relations with other forces in Gaza – especially with the Salafi jihadists, the Islamic Jihad movement, Fatah and the Popular Front – are strained, and internal conflicts within the movement have surfaced as well. In April-May 2011, Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement, but there are numerous doubts regarding its chances of success.
This seven-part review deals with the following topics: Fatah-Hamas Relations; Hamas's Military Conduct vis-a-vis Israel; Hamas's Administration of Gaza; Internal Conflicts within Hamas; Islamization in Gaza; Hamas's Relations with Islamic Jihad, Salafi-Jihadis; and Hamas's Relations with Egypt.
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