The Flawed Comparison: Israel's Likening of Hamas to the Islamic State

Israeli leaders and commanders have been comparing Hamas to the Islamic State (IS) group throughout the latest war in Gaza, but these comparisons miss the mark by ignoring the home-grown origins and base of support for Hamas in Palestinian society. While both groups have carried out gruesome killings, Hamas is an exclusively Palestinian movement focused on liberating what it sees as occupied land through the destruction of Israel. Eradicating Hamas could be a much tougher task than defeating IS, as it has deep roots and a system of government in Gaza. The future of Hamas remains uncertain, but experts believe it will maintain some sort of presence and continue to be a regional player. The ambitious goals against Hamas have complicated US diplomacy in ending the war, as Israel remains committed to its objectives and any formula to end the war would have to allow Israel to declare victory, even if Hamas remains intact.