Hamas: The Burden of Leadership

This research paper examines the governance challenges facing Hamas after its election victory, detailing the severe economic crisis, political deadlock with Fatah, and internal security threats from armed militias in the Palestinian territories.

• Hamas governs a severely distressed economy where one in two Palestinians lives on less than $1.50 per day, unable to meet basic needs for health, shelter, and nutrition.
• The Hamas-led Palestinian Authority faces a critical fiscal crisis characterized by a projected 2006 budgetary shortfall exceeding $1 billion, the suspension of $1.3 billion in international aid from 2005, and the loss of $750 million in annual tax revenues collected by Israel.
• Economic activity is heavily constrained by the Israeli security/separation wall, which impacts the 45,000 Palestinian workers crossing into Israel and threatens trade that represents 83% of the Palestinian gross domestic product.
• Hamas is embroiled in a political conflict with Fatah and Mahmoud Abbas over control of security forces and foreign policy, while simultaneously struggling to replace a corrupt state apparatus and manage approximately 4,000 armed militias engaged in extortion and black-market trade.
• The author asserts that the only path to viable statehood and international support is for Hamas to recognize the state of Israel, abandon violence, and honor the Oslo and post-Oslo agreements.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2008). Hamas: The Burden of Leadership. https://saiia.org.za/research/hamas-the-burden-of-leadership/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Hamas: The Burden of Leadership. 2008. https://saiia.org.za/research/hamas-the-burden-of-leadership/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Hamas: The Burden of Leadership |date=21 April 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/hamas-the-burden-of-leadership/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2008hamas, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Hamas: The Burden of Leadership}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/hamas-the-burden-of-leadership/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }