Someone asked in the comments why the Hamas fighters are wearing masks? What I can say is that one of the many advantages Hamas had over Fatah was that the identity and address of every security force soldier and officer in every branch was readily available to them. They simply pulled the salary rolls from the Hamas-controlled Finance Ministry and found out every Force 17 member, every special forces officer, every commander, etc. Then they systematically harassed, assaulted and intimidated them throughout the past months. We’ve heard that officers in the presidential guard received execution orders in writing on their doorsteps. Other officers had their homes stormed, and their relatives roughed up. I think there is no question that had a demoralizing affect, and there is no question that some officers decided it wasn’t worth it — Preventative Security chief Rashid Abu Shibak most famously who fled with his family after an attack on his home.
Hamas, like other Islamic organizations throughout the Middle East, remains a highly secretive organization and that is a huge advantage. Not only did the conventional security services not know who was in the Qassam Brigades (Hamas’ armed wing), they didn’t know where their bases were. We asked one Fatah fighter why they didn’t attack Hamas? He said, they don’t have any bases to attack. We chase after them and they dissolve into the population.
14 responses so far ↓
1 Koen Baumers // Jun 15, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Dear Mr. Levinson,
I am Koen Baumers from the Belgian public newsradio, Radio 1. We are looking for someone living in or around Gaza to tell about the life over there and were thinking of you. Can you contact us a.s.a.p., please?
Kind regards.
2 mister mister // Jun 15, 2007 at 4:14 pm
very interesting, and enlightening post.
that really clarifies the “mask” issue.
also, i would add, there is a psychological intimidation effect with wearing a mask, while armed with gun.
3 bijan daneshmand // Jun 15, 2007 at 4:16 pm
charles
you are doing an excellent job on reporting the siezure of power by hamas. here in the UK many are wondering whether Alan Johnston the BBC journalist being held in Gaza will be released soon. Many believe that his seizure was masterminded by Hamas as part of their coup and his release will be tied to the resumption of aid to Gazay the EU. We will be greatful for any light you can shed on this. Keep safe. Kind regards.
4 Global Voices Online » Palestine: Why Hamas Wears Masks? // Jun 15, 2007 at 4:42 pm
[…] live from Palestine, Charles Levinson explains why Hamas fighters wear masks. Share […]
5 PeaceThroughJustice // Jun 15, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Mr. Levinson left out another motivation for Hamas members to wear masks. Israeli forces would attempt to assassinate them if they could identify them.
6 Charles Levinson // Jun 15, 2007 at 8:04 pm
PeaceThroughJustice — that’s a commonly argued point, and most of the masked militants themselves would likely say something of the sort. But I don’t think it holds much water. Israel’s targetted assassinations are generally against the militia’s more senior members. I think if Israel went about trying to assassinate every rank and file Qassam militant it would 1) take a tremendous toll on their intelligence assets, and 2) turn into a bit of a bloodbath as they launched relentless targetted airstrikes. In general, whenever we hear of Israel taking out a militant, it’s usually some one of some prominence.
7 Charles Levinson // Jun 15, 2007 at 8:11 pm
I just talked over this question here, and a valid point was raised. While the rank and file are never really targetted by Israel, the rank and file do move up the hierarchy fairly quickly and thus would be similarly concerned about Israel identifying them.
8 Lisa // Jun 15, 2007 at 9:26 pm
On the other hand, I was in Ramallah today and saw that nearly all the Fatah-affiliated fighters were wearing masks, too. They told me it was to avoid being identified by Hamas fighters for future reprisals. Here’s one representative photo: http://flickr.com/photos/38128614@N00/552694601/
You can flick through my Flickr account to see more.
9 lisoosh // Jun 16, 2007 at 3:36 am
One would think that being part of a militia of dubious legality would predispose you to wear a mask.
And of course, once some of the guys are wearing one, the rest will follow.
10 Cris // Jun 16, 2007 at 10:37 am
How about a simpler explanation? Most of the militant muslim (AQ/Hamas/Fatah/Hezbollah, etc.) action targets civilians, is atrocious, and in other ways violates international law, the Geneva Conventions, and common decency. Criminals wear masks.
11 bill // Jun 17, 2007 at 11:09 am
In Iraq, the side that controls the territory goes without the mask.
Generally, the mask allows for continued operations without getting killed outright.
12 stephanie // Jun 17, 2007 at 6:57 pm
ummm, cause they look cool?
13 DP111 // Jun 19, 2007 at 4:47 am
Why not just shoot anyone who wears a mask.
14 Duncan McFarlane // Jun 26, 2007 at 10:15 pm
bijan daneshmand wrote ” Alan Johnston …Many believe that his seizure was masterminded by Hamas as part of their coup and his release will be tied to the resumption of aid to Gazay the EU”
So why haven’t his captors demanded the resumption of EU aid to Gaza if that’s why he was taken captive?
I don’t say you’re definitely wrong because it’s hard to know the truth in these situations. I read one article in the Observer though saying the Daghmash clan are holding him as part of a feud with Hamas over a Hamas gunman killing one of their relatives.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329771713-119093,00.html
On the other hand the kidnappers’ last demands were to have Muslim prisoners around the world released on behalf of the “Army of Islam”
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/24/bbcreporter.video/index.html
However why would Hamas ask for non-Palestinian prisoners to be released?
That doesnt make sense.
It seems to me that this may be an attempt by Hamas’ enemies (Fatah? Mossad? the Daghmash clan? or a combination of them?) to link targeting Hamas to the American and British ‘war on terror’.
Either that or Hamas are very stupid (and i dont think they’re that stupid)
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