Hamas, Machiavelli, and the cunning art of survival

Tempered by siege and baptised by fire, battle-hardened Hamas has emerged not as a mere militant faction but as a masterclass in strategic endurance. Their stubbornness, their refusal to lay down arms, their relentless media warfare—none of it is random. It is the cold calculus of survival. And if you’re still asking why they don’t play fair, you haven’t been listening to Machiavelli. “Never play fair when others are cheating,” Machiavelli warned. “Fairness is a weapon invented by the weak to restrain the strong.” Hamas understands this better than anyone. In a world where diplomacy is often a masquerade and promises are currency without backing, they do not mistake handshakes for peace. They see through the performance. They smell the […]