How did Hamas oppose Yasser Arafat’s agreements with Israel?

Hamas opposed Yasser Arafat’s agreements with Israel, most notably the 1993 Oslo Accords, based on its foundational rejection of any negotiations that would cede Palestinian land. Founded in 1987 as a challenge to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s secular approach, Hamas maintained that Palestine was an Islamic homeland that could never be surrendered to non-Muslims.12

To oppose the peace process, Hamas took the following actions:

• Escalation of Violence: Following the 1993 agreement, Hamas intensified its campaign against Israel, frequently utilizing suicide bombers to undermine the diplomatic efforts led by Arafat.1
• Ideological Opposition: The group viewed the recognition of Israel’s right to exist—a core requirement of the peace process—as a violation of its religious duty to wage holy war to control Palestine.2
• Political Pressure: While Arafat attempted to include Hamas in the Palestinian Authority by appointing its members to leadership positions, the group continued to reject the foundational principles of the peace agreements for over a decade.1

This fundamental disagreement created a persistent rift in Palestinian politics, eventually leading to the violent split between Hamas and Fatah in 2007.34