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Short answer
The claim that Israel created Hamas is a conspiracy theory, demonstrably false and stemming from criticism of Netanyahu’s Gaza policies. Hamas, an Islamist militant group, was founded independently by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in the late 1980s, with a charter from its inception calling for Israel’s destruction.
While initially playing a moderate role in the First Intifada, Hamas’s influence grew, culminating in its 2006 election victory and takeover of the Gaza Strip. Israel, like other Western nations, was initially misled about Hamas’s true nature.
Netanyahu’s controversial policy of allowing Qatari funds into Gaza, intended to prevent violence, ultimately strengthened Hamas and contributed to the October 7th attacks. Israel’s complex and sometimes flawed policies toward Hamas in no way, however, support the claim that Israel created the group.
Long answer
The claim that Israel intentionally created Hamas is a conspiracy theory. This narrative is demonstrably false and originated from legitimate criticism of Netanyahu’s policy of allowing Qatari funds into Gaza.
Hamas is an Islamist militant group founded independently by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, spun off from the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood in the late 1980s. From its very beginning, Hamas had a charter calling for Israel’s destruction. During the First Intifada, Hamas played a growing but moderate role, as the most recognizable figure within the Palestinian resistance was Yasser Arafat. However, from the 1990s onward, its role in Palestinian politics increased considerably.
It took over the Gaza Strip after defeating its rival political party, Fatah, in elections in 2006. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States, due to its violent activities against Israeli civilians.
Israel, like other Western nations, was initially misled and saw Hamas as a political and social organization. Netanyahu’s controversial decision to allow Qatari funds to reach Hamas was aimed at preventing further violence. Although Israel did tolerate the Islamic charity, this was due to a political miscalculation, not a deliberate attempt to create a terrorist group.
The goal of allowing Qatar to funnel money to Hamas, increasing work permits for Gazans, and tolerating Hamas’s provocations was to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state by dividing the Palestinian territories. This policy, while intended to maintain calm, ultimately strengthened Hamas, culminating in the devastating attacks of October 7th, which exposed the failure of this approach.
While Israel’s policies toward Hamas have been complex and sometimes flawed, they in no way support the ridiculous claim that Israel created Hamas.
