This beginner's guide to Hamas has been fully revised and updated. It now covers all the major events since the January 2006 elections, including the conflict with Fatah and Israel's brutal offensive in Gaza at the end of 2008.

Explaining the reasons for Hamas's popularity, leading Al-Jazeera journalist and Cambridge academic Khaled Hroub provides the key facts that are so often missing from conventional news reports. It's a one-stop guide that gives a clear overview of Hamas's history, key beliefs, and its political agenda.

This unique book provides a refreshing perspective that gets to the heart of Hamas.

Khaled Hroub is a Palestinian, born into a refugee camp in Bethlehem, and now part of the diaspora of educated intellectuals. He is currently director of the Arab Media Project at Cambridge University and is the author of three previous books on Hamas.

Introduction to second edition
1. Hamas’s history
Islamism and the Palestinian struggle
The Muslim Brotherhood: the roots of Hamas
The formation of Hamas
2. Hamas’s ideology and objectives
The definition of Hamas, its ideological drive and worldview
Hamas Charter
Hamas: a national liberation movement or a religious movement
3. Hamas and Israel and Judaism
Hamas’s view of the Jews
Hamas’s view of Israel
4. Hamas’s resistance and military strategy
Forcing unconditional Israeli withdrawal
Suicide attacks
5. Hamas’s political and social strategy
Grassroots social work
Elections, democracy and mobilisation
Hamas’s economic outlook
6. Hamas and Fatah and the Palestinians
Hamas’s popularity
Hamas, the PLO and the Palestinian Left
Hamas and Fatah
Hamas and the Palestinian Christians
7. Hamas and ‘International Islamism’
Hamas and Muslim countries
Hamas and Muslim communities in the West
Hamas and Islamist movements
8. Hamas and the West
Hamas and the West
Hamas and the United States
Hamas and Europe
9. Hamas’s Leadership and Structure
Leadership
Hamas’s Charter
10. A New Hamas?
Hamas and the 2006 elections
The significance of Hamas’ victory
11. Hamas in Power
The mixed fortunes of Hamas in power
The mixed fortunes of Hamas in power-sharing and controlling
12. The future of Hamas
13. Hamas and Gaza War 2008/9
Hamas and the causes of the war
What Hamas gained and lost of the war
Hamas’ regional standing after the war
Index