Gaza Sinks into Radicalism

[Lithos]

In the Gaza Strip, posters turn dead fighters into martyrs, and colorful billboards carry quotes calling for martyrdom and advocating the creed of jihadism and a culture of violence and confrontation.

This social shift in favor of political and radical Islam, has also become a way of life, turning Gaza into a fundamentalist bastion harboring myriads of radical groups that have found fertile breeding ground in the coastal enclave.

Local observers and researchers also believe that the Hamas strategy of imposing an Islamic social agenda across Gaza has made it easier for these groups and armed clans to tap into an already-conservative society.

...

Based on the ideology of resisting Western values and culture, the groups have easily established themselves amongst the Gaza youth, who are living in extreme poverty and frustration as a result of the perceived corruption of their leaders and the lack of any real progress towards peace with Israel.

The Israeli, American, and European economic embargo against the democratically-elected Palestinian government has been the main factor driving Gaza society towards extremism, says Jihad ‘Abdallah, a retired political scientist from Al-'A'sriya College in Ramallah.

...

Unlike Hamas, groups allied to Al-Qa’ida do not seek or care about popularity, and their actions are not influenced by public opinion, but by their views and strategies.

“This means they are willing to proceed with their agenda and carry out whatever goals are set for them regardless of how they are perceived by society,” says Ibrahim Abu Khair, an expert on Islamic affairs from the Arabic Society for Development Studies. “It’s difficult to ascertain the numerical strength of the Salafi groups, especially those who are armed and manage to infiltrate into Gaza…But it is well known they are concentrated in the Gaza Strip”

...

[pelsar]

1. just so its no surprise....

Hamas is "gunning for" the westbank.......and given their patience, experience and the PA's incompetence, i expect it to happen sooner than later... irreguardless of what israel does (anything israel does wont be enough, simply because, Hamas is built on that principle and so many will "fall in line" with them wthin the westbank and outside)

[ProgressiveMuslim]

2. Israel is certainly doing its part to make that possible! nt

[Vegasaurus]

3. Never taking any responsibility

That's the Palestinian way, apparently.

Hamas has made a shitty mess of things. And it is their own damn fault, for bad decision making.

[pelsar]

4. and when it happens?

i really have little doubt that hamas will get the westbank......and i also think it will make life hell for the Palestinians far more than it will for israel......At the sametime i think the only one who can stop it is the PA..but then they dont inspire any confidence...and i agree that the israel isnt helping them any....not that i have any idea what israel could possibly do to help the PA.....on a serious level (remove roadblocks, stop settlements-maybe....). But the PAs celebration of the guy who killed the 8 kids doesnt really provide any kind of motivation in that direction....

its a mess and its going to get worse..i just hope hamas rise to power doesnt influence the Israeli right/religious (olmert is giving shas and other religious groups money and power so he can stay in office....)
___

just an addition..a large part of the problem in gaza is there is simply nothing for the youth to do....but join one of the various groups,(identity, action etc)...even the schools are political....

[Vegasaurus]

5. How sad

An entire generation brought up with guns and an identity being based on resistance.

Where are books and enlightenment?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

6. Pelsar, sometimes I think you live in a dream world.

Nothing for youth to do?

You make it sound like Hamas banned recreational activities.

There is outright despair among youth who have no hope of a future... of education... of a job... of the ability to marry and have a family.

There is nothing but bleakness. And there hasn't been for a long, long time.

And it's not because of Hamas.

[Vegasaurus]

7. Hamas has made life so much worse

How can you not blame them for the pain they have caused so many people? It is because of Hamas that the borders are closed, that rockets fall daily on Israeli cities (and are not stopped), that there is less electricity, that the Gazans have been cut off from the world.

Hamas could halt the violent resistance, and it refuses, defiantly. They have dug themselves a great big mess of a hole, and they can't get out. But instead of acknowledging their hand in the mess they are in, they blame others.

[breakaleg]

8. Maybe for the same reason you can't find fault with Israel's 40 year occupation and the

pain it causes.

[Vegasaurus]

11. I do find fault with the occupation

contrary to some people here, I see two sides to this conflict, and Israel very much to blame for certain things.

I do not, however, subscribe to the "poor pathetic victims, the Palestinians" who have done absolutely nothing to get themselves into the crappy position in which they find themselves. I do not believe they are guiltless victims, but have made so many bad choices and decisions (and continue to) which only makes their lives worse and worse.

[pelsar]

10. not much dreaming....

you make it sound like Hamas banned recreational activities.

There is outright despair among youth who have no hope of a future... of education... of a job... of the ability to marry and have a family.

they havent banned them all.....but in fact some have been, (internet cafes, i believe a library went up in smoke)......because of hamas

the severe politicalization of everything in gaza, has gotten worse since hamas....and its become deadly in some cases..because of hamas

[ProgressiveMuslim]

9. How unfortunate that the liberal west abandoned Palestine.

Time and again.

Here we will with our thumbs up our asses while the Israeli settlement machine churns on, even as I type this.

Yes, let's pity those poor radicals and congratulate ourselves for our moral superiority.

[Vegasaurus]

12. The Palestininas have hardly been abandoned

They have been given billions and billions of dollars in aid.

[Looking4Light]

13. Not unfortunate, understandable

out of disgust at the violent tactics and genocidal goals adopted by the Palestinian terror groups.

[MaryCeleste]

14. only after their muslim and arab brothers did

The Palestinians are the tools of others who give them arms and radical islam and then watch them die.

[Vegasaurus]

15. I wonder why there isn't more prodding of the arab nations

to do their part for the Palestinians. Instead, only the true enemy of the Arab world, Israel, is expected to provide food, fuel, humanitarian aid.

Talk about war is peace.

[MaryCeleste]

16. Their use of the people of Gaza as lethal proxies is accepted

and not brought up in polite society or the UN