Hamas are not seeking 'Israel's elimination'. This is nonsense.
Their charter was written in desperation: PLO corruption and collaboration, dwindling Arab support, and other circumstances led to their birth. But this, their charter, is what is always referred to when discussing Hamas - not their actual recent actions.
So let's have a quick look then. Hamas after deciding to enter politics stopped suicide bombing in 2005, officially renouncing them in 2006. How many people know this?
They formed a coalition government as soon as they won the 'free and fair' elections (to paraphrase President Carter) but were immediately undermined by Arab states (Backed by the US) and Western states alike. This came to a head in 2007 when Hamas found out that Fatah were planning a coup that was fully endorsed by those who wanted to keep an obedient force (Fatah, PLO) in power*. Hamas preempted this planned coup which was reported in Arab news outlets. Hamas, however, are portrayed as the 'false government', not legitimate and a force that have enslaved the Palestinians.. Yes, that's right. We're supposed to believe that this same Hamas who won their way to power through feeding, clothing and looking after the civilians of Gaza - while Fatah were busy consolidating their power and spending their money on themselves - have now about turned and are 'holding their population hostage'. Israeli spin is by far the most powerful in the world.
All throughout Hamas's time in power they repeatedly stated they would be willing to negotiate with Israel in line with international law, or the '67 borders. Never accepted by Israel and almost never reported anywhere. After all, Hamas simply want Israel dead, no? Believe what you will.
So Hamas oust Fatah and the blockade tightens. You would think that they would lash out, no? Nope. It was
Israel, I repeat,
Israel who broke the ceasefire that led to the Gaza war. Israel crossed the border on November the 4th, killing 6 militants and breaking the ceasefire. Hamas and the Gazans quite rightly started the rockets up again and Israel had all the pretense needed to wipe out Gaza to show the Arabs, after the 2006 defeat by Hezbollah, that Israel was not to be messed with. Or as it is known in Israel, their notorious 'deterrence policy'.
You would think that now, more than any other time in their history, Hamas would be calling for Israel's destruction? I know it doesn't fit with their attempts at peace over the previous years but one would still expect, with their charter an' all, that they would be hellbent on Israel's destruction, no? No. Once again we see that it was
Hamas that were looking towards peace.
Hamas: We will accept long-term truce if Gaza borders opened
Hamas leader Ghazi Hamad says his group wants 'to be part of the international community.'
Senior Hamas officials are indicating a willingness to negotiate a deal for a long-term truce with Israel as long as the borders of Gaza are opened to the rest of the world.
Hamas: We will accept long-term truce if Gaza borders opened - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News
All they wanted was the stranglehold on their country loosened. Only what is morally required.
Take note: Hamas offered a
truce. A long lasting, substantial
truce, not a mere ceasefire - and Israel flat out refused. As a result Gaza is dead. The population may still be hanging on but Gaza is effectively dead. No commerce, trade, infrastructure, a recent B'tselem article revealed that 95% of their water is undrinkable with 20 years needed to repair the system, a demoralised and battered population added into all of this and it seems Israel have completed their deterrence policy objectives.
Hamas have always stated that they would go along with any results of any negotiations (including these present ones) if the Palestinians agree to said results by voting in a referendum. As long as the civilian population is on board, Hamas agree to
any peace. Is this unreasonable? How many even know this? The sad thing is that most of what I have posted in this thread is not common knowledge ..
in the West. Hamas are portrayed as this group full of nothing more than racist extremists hellbent on Israel's destruction, when the truth is very, very different. For one, there is a large moderate element to Hamas and always has been. Second, they have never enforced their charter. Even Israel's top dogs have admitted as much: Hamas have not enforced their charter, which we need to remember was born out of desperation.
We need to understand that charters are nothing more than pieces of paper born through a time of desperation. Should I bring up the South African's charter? Or the IRA's? None have been enforced, yet strangely we have peace in both countries... strange (not really).
For anyone who wants info on Hamas's real stance, you should definitely read this article. It's an interview with the present Hamas leader.
Khaled Mesh’al Lays out New Hamas Policy Direction
This is the most recent interview with Khaled Mesh’al who, since 1996, has been the Chairman of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Political Bureau. After the assassination of Hamas leader Abdul ‘Aziz Rantisi in 2004, Mesh’al became the overall leader of the movement.
Khaled Mesh
Please try to wade through the lies, disinformation and propaganda of the IDF and Western media, and make up your own minds. And try to remember that Hamas are a resistance, fighting an illegal, brutal, and immoral occupation.
And by the way, just to add, Al Qassam Brigades are not Hamas (in reference to the 'militant wing of Hamas' statement in the OP). They are quite separate entities who's goals have happened to intertwine in the past (they were formed by an ex Hamas member which is what draws the connection between the two). *When Hamas preempted the Fatah coup in 2007
The Gaza Bombshell | Politics | Vanity Fair , this 'militant wing' of Hamas did not take part in the hostilities. What sort of militant wing stands by and watches their 'masters' (so we are told to believe) fighting an actual war for survival? Answer: one that is separate from Hamas.