The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Hamas have both been designated as terrorist organizations by various governments, yet their trajectories differ significantly. ISIS, a transnational insurgent group, was dismantled as a territorial entity through a coordinated military campaign. Hamas, on the other hand, remains entrenched in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, demonstrating remarkable endurance despite repeated military confrontations. This divergence can be attributed to differences in ideological foundations, organizational structures, territorial control strategies, relationships with local populations, and external support. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war that erupted in October 2023 further underscores these distinctions, revealing why Hamas cannot be eradicated through military means alone, as was the case with ISIS.

ISIS and Hamas differ fundamentally in their ideological foundations and strategic objectives[1]. ISIS emerged from the remnants of al-Qaeda in Iraq, positioning itself as the vanguard of a global jihadist movement. It sought to establish an Islamic caliphate, imposing strict Sharia law and expanding its control through military conquest. ISIS’s ideology was inherently expansionist, demanding absolute loyalty while branding dissenters—including other Islamist groups—as apostates. In contrast, Hamas is a nationalist-Islamist movement with a localized agenda. While advocating for the establishment of an Islamic state in historic Palestine, its primary objective remains resistance against Israeli occupation[2]. Unlike ISIS, Hamas engages in governance and diplomacy alongside its military activities. This pragmatic approach has helped Hamas sustain long-term support among Palestinians, positioning itself as both a resistance force and a political authority.

The structural differences between ISIS and Hamas significantly impact their resilience. ISIS operated as a centralized insurgent force, seizing and governing large territories in Iraq and Syria. However, its governance model was characterized by extreme brutality, economic mismanagement, and coercive control, leading to alienation among local populations. Once military pressure intensified, ISIS rapidly lost its territorial holdings and collapsed as a........

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