Hamas rise in Gaza linked to early social networks and Israeli policies

A report by The Times of Israel examines the historical trajectory that led Hamas to control the Gaza Strip, tracing its roots from the social and religious networks of the Al-Mujama al-Islami. This network established schools, clinics, and mosques that formed the movement's institutional foundation prior to the official founding of Hamas in 1987.

The report suggests that during the early 1980s, the Israeli military administration in Gaza adopted a policy of leniency toward Islamic movements. This was intended to create a counterweight to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and communist factions. Former Israeli military governor Isaac Segev is cited as having maintained a personal relationship with Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, even assisting with his medical treatment in Israel.

Following the 1993 Oslo Accords, Hamas rejected the agreements and declined to join the newly formed Palestinian Authority. While Fatah managed the administrative burdens and political complexities of the Authority, Hamas continued to expand its social and charitable networks outside of official institutions, strengthening its popular presence without the political costs associated with the peace process.