The Best New Hamas Books To Read In 2025

Declared a terrorist menace yet voted into government in a free election, Hamas then used its Gaza power base to launch cross-border attacks that scorched Israel and transformed the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. How did a small Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood grow to challenge long-established rivals such as the PLO? Who supports Hamas and what is its agenda? How powerful has it become and how strong will it remain?

With decades of combined experience researching and reporting from the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jerusalem, and around the Middle East, Beverley Milton-Edwards and Stephen Farrell gained unrivalled access to Hamas. Drawing on years of frontline reporting and interviews with members of the group’s founding generation and their successors who now lead it, they trace Hamas’ path to the shocking attacks of 07 October 2023 and their devastating aftermath.  Its critics believe Hamas must be ousted to reach a solution to the Middle East conflict. Hamas’s supporters believe it is the solution. Nobody now believes it can be ignored. Based on their landmark 2010 study which has been thoroughly revised and updated, this book brings the story of Hamas up to the present and will be essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the Middle East today.

"In October 2023 fighters from the Hamas militant group in the Gaza territory crossed over into neighboring Israel where they attacked civilians-ultimately killing some 1,200 people-while kidnapping nearly 230 Israelis and taking them back to Gaza as hostages. The incident touched off the Israel-Hamas War in which Israel used its formidable military to attack Gaza. As of early 2024 30,000 Palestinians had lost their lives in the conflict.

The Israel-Hamas War is the latest conflict in the long history of hostility between Israelis and Palestinians, sparking intense divisions across the globe as political leaders and citizens debated the justification for the harsh Israeli response"--.

If your introduction to Hamas began with the world news attack on October 7, 2023, you may have only skimmed the surface of a conflict rooted in centuries of deep-seated resentment. Understanding Hamas’ motivations and grievances requires delving into its origins and evolution over time. Contrary to popular belief, the heart of the movement has not resided in the Gaza Strip but rather in the ancient land of Jordan for over 3,500 years. Though it may not have been known as "Hamas" in those distant days, its ideology and tactics have exhibited striking consistency throughout history.

Today, as this conflict permeates even your local news, you may find yourself not merely a passive bystander but compelled to take a position in these unfolding events. By exploring Hamas’ past and background, you gain insight into the underlying dynamics and can navigate your role, while also anticipating its future trajectory—an awareness that inherently shapes your destiny.