Is Hamas the Palestinian Government ?

[Beachnutt]

How did hamas become the leaders of the Palestinian people ?
Are the Palestinian people in support of hamas actions ?
Do the Palestinian people hate those who don't believe as they do ?

[NutmegYankee]

1. Only of Gaza. Fatah governs the West Bank.

There was a mini Civil War a ways back.

[Beachnutt]

4. It's confusing to me,

The terrorist tactics have to be stopped.
I can't understand the hate of people who do not believe as you do, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs.

[marybourg]

7. It's more "land" than "belief ".

[Act_of_Reparation]

2. Alrighty...

How did hamas become the leaders of the Palestinian people ?

Nominally, they are not. The Palestinian Authority is the official government of the Palestinian territories.

Hamas has governed Gaza since taking over by force in 2007. The PA isn't able to reign in Hamas largely in because the PA is corrupt and ineffectual.

Are the Palestinian people in support of hamas actions ?

Yes and no. Hamas enjoys the support of a majority of Palestinians, but by no means is this support unanimous.

Do the Palestinian people hate those who don't believe as they do ?

Doesn't everyone?

[sarisataka]

8. One addition

The PA is the official government and Hamas won a clear majority in 2006. 58% if memory serves.

Being able to control the PA, they pushed their agenda of the elimination of Israel, no compromise. This caused a civil war between Hamas and Fatah. When the dust settled Hamas controlled Gaza and became the defacto government there. Fatah had the West Bank, claimed control of the PA.

Most countries recognized the PA as the legitimate government of Palestinians. Afghanistan, Algeria, Syria and Iran recognize Hamas or both

[Mosby]

11. Hamas has had pretty high approval ratings (on and off)

And the likely reason for a lack of elections since the legislative election in 2006 is that Fatah is worried about the outcome. Abbas is 87 years old, and when he dies there is going to be a civil war among clans to determine who controls the PLO and the PA. This has already been occurring regionally in places like Hebron.

[sarisataka]

14. Yes, I have read several sources

That Fatah doesn't want elections because they fear Hamas will easily win. Fatah themselves may only be the 3rd or 4th party.

When Abbas dies, many Palestinians will suffer again at the hands of their own. I don't know what his health is like but I could see this timing of Hamas being to ensure they are at the top of the list of successors to power. It would also explain why they apparently did this without Iran's knowledge. They may have thought their "ally" might stab them in the back, putting their puppet into the power vacuum.

[T_A]

3. There Hasn't Been An Election

since 2006, so nobody has any governmental authority over Gaza. Not to mention the illegal Israeli blockade, the illegal Military Occupation, and the illegal conversion of Gaza into the largest open-air prison on the planet.

Other than that...

[LexVegas]

5. Yes. nt

[2naSalit]

6. They became the leaders...

By providing structure after a major conflict. They provided public services and people were glad to have something and someone who "defended" them and helped them find a way to move forward. Many of those survivors were young and when disaster takes over, what comes behind to help is not always in your favor in the long run. An example might be, in theory, similar to post civil war carpet baggers... only far worse.

Much of the population is young, half children, the rest mostly under 30.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Israel supported Hamas to box out the PLO, and here we are.

And by "support" I mean "eliminated other potential sources of left resistance," similar to how U.S. actions fostered the creation and success of Al Qaeda.

[obamanut2012]

10. Exactly

[Mosby]

12. Prove it.

You cant.

[Voltaire2]

13. Hamas won the last election in 2006.

Then there was a civil war that split the PA between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza. There has not been an election since the 2006 disaster.

At least that is my recollection. I may have the details wrong.