Did Israel create Hamas?
VERDICT
CONFIDENCE
95%
Direct Answer
Hamas was founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin during the First Intifada. Israel tolerated and indirectly supported Yassin's Islamist network in the 1970s-1980s as a counterweight to the secular PLO, but did not create Hamas. The group emerged independently and turned against Israel by 1989.
What the Evidence Shows
Hamas originated from the Gaza branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, established in 1946, with Yassin building social institutions that Israel permitted to weaken PLO influence. No evidence shows direct Israeli creation; support was passive tolerance until Hamas's 1989 attacks prompted a crackdown. Claims of 'creation' stem from officials' regrets over miscalculations, like Avner Cohen calling it 'Israel's creation' in hindsight, but historical records confirm Palestinian Islamist roots predating significant Israeli involvement.
Why People Get This Wrong
The claim arises from quotes by Israeli officials like Avner Cohen and Yitzhak Segev admitting financial aid to mosques and tolerance of Brotherhood activities to divide Palestinians from the PLO. This indirect strategy backfired when Hamas militarized, leading to exaggerated narratives of deliberate 'creation' rather than opportunistic support for a pre-existing movement.
What is the origin of Hamas?
Hamas formed in December 1987 from Sheikh Ahmad Yassin's Mujama al-Islamiya, a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot focused on social services in Gaza. It issued its charter in 1988 calling for an Islamic state in Palestine and armed resistance. Roots trace to the Brotherhood's 1946 Gaza presence.
Why did Israel support Palestinian Islamists?
In the 1970s-1980s, Israel allowed Yassin's network to grow via schools, mosques, and charities to counter the secular nationalist PLO and Fatah. Officials like Brig. Gen. Yitzhak Segev provided funds to mosques on government orders, viewing Islamists as less threatening than PLO militants.
When did Israel turn against Hamas?
Israel banned Hamas in June 1989 after it abducted and killed two soldiers. Prior tolerance ended as Hamas rejected PLO diplomacy, embraced violence in its 1988 charter, and launched attacks during the First Intifada.
Sources & Methodology
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
truthradar.ai · verified by AI · powered by Perplexity