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Hamas and Hezbollah and the Hybrid Terrorist Organization Model
Introduction
Understanding the development processes of terrorist organizations, their modus operandi, target audiences, and organizational policies is important when it comes to global terrorism for several reasons (Crenshaw, 1995). It helps policymakers and security agencies to anticipate and disrupt the formation of new groups, as well as to develop strategies to counter existing organizations. It can also help researchers identify and address the underlying grievances and social conditions that led to its development (Hudson, 1999). It can help agencies and organizations identify potential threats and prioritize counter-terrorism efforts, and develop more effective counter-messaging strategies to undermine the appeal of extremist ideologies. It can also lead to countries cooperating more effectively in efforts to combat terrorism. This paper examines two hybrid terrorist organizationsHamas and Hezbollahand analyzes them from the hybrid terrorist organization model standpoint to advance this same level of understanding.
The Hybrid Terrorist Organization Model
The Hybrid Terrorist Organization Model is a framework used to study the development and functioning of terrorist organizations. It is based on the idea that terrorist organizations are continually transforming and adapting to external stimuli and changes in the environment. The model recognizes that such organizations can be both decentralized and centralized, and can incorporate different ideologies, tactics, and strategic objectives. The model also acknowledges that hybrid terrorist organizations are often composed of multiple parts with different goals and strategies, making them diverse and unpredictable. What essentially makes an organization a hybrid terrorist organization, however, is that it is often composed of both altruistic and terroristic components; for instance, it may provide charitable services to members of society on the one hand while engaging in terroristic aims on the other. It may have an educative or religious mission on the one hand while perpetuating a terrorist campaign on the other. It is a hybrid terrorist organization because it has these contrasting components, which on the one hand are socially acceptable and positive and on the other hand are dangerous, deadly, violent and terroristic. In the end, the organizations tend to normalize terrorism, socially speaking within the cultures to which they cater and by which they are also influenced (Azani, 2013).
Hamas and Hezbollah
Hamas
Hamas, which stands for the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist organization that was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada. It grew out of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization that had been active in Palestine for decades. Hamas has a political wing, which participates in Palestinian elections and provides social services to Palestinians, and a military wing, which conducts terrorist attacks against Israel
The development of Hamas was heavily influenced by the Israeli occupation of Palestine, as well as the failure of secular Palestinian nationalist movements to achieve independence. Hamas's focus on resistance against Israel and its rejection of the peace process helped it gain support among Palestinians who were frustrated with the status quo. The organization's social services also helped it gain popularity among the Palestinian population (Azani, 2018).
Over the years, Hamas has transformed from a grassroots political activist organization to a hybrid terrorist network, combining military, political and social activities. Their primary goals are to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine and to create a Palestinian state. The development process of Hamas was shaped by its roots in the Palestinian struggle for liberation and its commitment to the liberation of Palestine. This was further shaped by the political and social context of the region. It was influenced by the Arab-Israel conflict, the Oslo Accords, the Intifada.
The regional conflict led to increased militarization of the organization, with its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, becoming its most visible branch. Hamas also increased its social presence, providing various services such as health and education in areas of Gaza under its control. Over time, it has become a hybrid organization, combining military, political and social objectives.
Hezbollah
Hezbollah, which means "Party of God," is a Lebanese Shiite-Islamic political and militant group that was founded...…to garner significant levels of domestic and international support, enabling them to remain a potent force in their respective regions.
In terms of the development process of Hamas and Hezbollah, the Hybrid Terrorist Organization Model shows us how influences from their respective communities and local contexts shaped their strategies and goals. In the case of Hamas, the emergence of an organized Palestinian struggle for liberation, followed by the Oslo Accords and Intefadeh, impacted the organization's development process, leading to its increased militarization and commitment to Palestinian liberation. Similarly, in the case of Hezbollah, the presence of a hostile Israeli occupation and the support of Iran impacted its development, leading to its transformation into a hybrid terrorist organization committed to promoting its interpretation of Islamic law in Lebanon.
The Hybrid Terrorist Organization Model also demonstrates how these organizations have been able to gain domestic and international support. By providing infrastructure, aid and educational programs in areas of Gaza under its control, Hamas has been able to garner strong support from the Palestinian people. Additionally, their commitment to Palestinian liberation has enabled them to gain strategic alliances with other terrorist organizations, as well as financial support from some regional countries. Similarly, Hezbollah's status as a resistance group against foreign forces and its social services has enabled it to gain significant levels of support domestically and internationally.
Conclusion
Both Hamas and Hezbollah developed as a result of political and social factors, including the Israeli occupation and the failure of existing political systems to meet the needs of the population. Their development was also heavily influenced by regional actors such as Iran and Syria. The Hybrid Terrorist Organization Model can be seen as a useful tool for understanding the complexity of hybrid terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. By studying their development processes and the influence of regional and international systems, this model is able to provide valuable insight into their strategies, tactics, and goals. This model can also help us understand how these organizations have been able to…
References
Azani, E. (2011). Hezbollah: the story of the party of God: from revolution to institutionalization. Springer.
Azani, E. (2012). Hezbollah's Strategy Of “Walking On The Edge”: Between Political Game And Political Violence. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 35(11), 741-759.
Azani, E. (2013). The hybrid terrorist organization: Hezbollah as a case study. Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, 36(11), 899-916.
Azani, E. (2018). Global Jihad – The Shift from Hierarchal Terrorist Organizations to Decentralized Systems, June 2018, IDC website, https://www.ict.org.il/Article/2210/ Global_Jihad_Shift_from_Hierarchal_Terrorist_Organizations#gsc.tab=0
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