Why did Hamas oppose the Oslo Accords?

Hamas opposed the Oslo Accords primarily because the group rejected any negotiations that would cede Palestinian land or recognize the legitimacy of Israel.1

Founded in 1987, Hamas was established in opposition to the secular approach of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). A core tenet of the organization is the belief that all of Palestine is an Islamic homeland that can never be surrendered to non-Muslims. Consequently, Hamas viewed the act of waging holy war to wrest control of the territory from Israel as a religious duty.2

Because the Oslo Accords were predicated on the PLO’s recognition of Israel’s right to exist and the acceptance of a land-for-peace framework based on United Nations Resolution 242 and United Nations Resolution 338, Hamas denounced the agreements. Following the 1993 signing, the group intensified its opposition through an escalated campaign of violence and suicide bombings.132