Religion and Society in the East

The periodical of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences. ISSN 2542-1530

Issues

Clans in Gaza Strip Politics

Aleksandr Demchenko

Religiia i obshchestvo na Vostoke, Issue II (2018), p. 14-46.

Thread of Events — Canvas of Ideas / Нить событий — канва идей

 
Palestinian society in Gaza Strip is composed of three types of tradition structures: tribes, clans and notable families. The most important of them are clans (hamulas). On one hand, during the second Palestinian Intifada and the rival between Hamas and Fatah the clans in Gaza formed militias, the shadow economy and also engaged in criminal activities and clan feuding using firearms. On the other hand, clans enhanced social stability and supplemented the weak Palestinian administration. After Hamas seizured power in Gaza strip in June 2007 Islamists suppressed the clannish opposition and stopped clan-based violence. However, some of the clans are still powerful at local level and are an important political and social factor. Thus the widespread and dangerous clans activities in Gaza strip is an example of archaization and degradation in some regions of the Arab world.

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Keywords: Gaza Strip, Hamas, Fatah, Palestine National Authority, social structure, clans, tribes, terrorism, Islam, Palestine-Israeli conflict

Volume: 14-46

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