Between Authority and Resistance: the Political Evolution of Gaza from 1948 to Hamas

Authors

  • Pedro FERREIRA Portuguese Military Academy Research Centre
  • Mariana RODRIGUES University of Lisbon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-25-23

Keywords:

administration, Hamas, identity, Palestine, resistance.

Abstract

This paper examines the historic and political dynamics of administration in Gaza, focusing on the impact of Egyptian rule, Palestinian administration, and the rise of Hamas. The relevance of this topic lies in its implications for understanding the Palestinian struggle for self-determination. The aim is to analyze how the different government structures have shaped Palestinian identity and resistance. A qualitative approach was used, focusing on historical analysis and contextual examination of key events, based on a review of academic articles and books. The findings reveal that the Egyptian administration laid the foundations for political organisation, the Oslo Accords introduced complexities that fueled internal divisions, and the emergence of Hamas further transformed the socio-political landscape, intertwining the administration with armed resistance. This work contributes to a deeper understanding of the interaction between the administration and the resistance in Gaza.

Author Biographies

Pedro FERREIRA, Portuguese Military Academy Research Centre

Lieutenant Colonel Pedro Nuno Antunes Ferreira, joined the Portuguese Military Academy in February 2018, part of the Military University Institute of Portugal, where he is Professor of General Theory of Strategy, Theory of International Relations and Geopolitics.He is Scientific Coordinator of the Military Science Study Cycles in the branches of Infantry, Artillery and Cavalry. He is a member of the Scientific and Pedagogical Committees of the Military Academy and of the Scientific Council of the Military University Institute.

Pedro is Director of the 2nd Year Military Science Course and Coordinator of the Irregular Warfare Module of the Erasmus Programme at the Military Academy. He has also advised a select number of M.A. student theses in this Academy.

He holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Military Science from the Military Academy. He holds a master's and doctorate in Political Science and International Relations, specialising in Security and Defence, from the Portuguese Catholic University.

During the period in which he developed his doctoral thesis, Pedro was a visiting student at Oxford University, Lincoln College, with a scholarship from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, where he developed his research, and was awarded the ‘D. Henrique, o Navegador’ prize by the Portuguese Catholic University, Institute of Political Studies.

His publications include his book ‘O Novo Terrorismo’ (The New Terrorism), published in 2006, and he was coordinator and author of a chapter of the book ‘Entender a Guerra Hoje - Estratégia, Guerra, Política’ (Understanding War Today - Strategy, War, Politics), published in 2024.

 

For more informations, see:

Pedro Antunes Ferreira (0000-0003-1038-6165) - ORCID

PEDRO NUNO ANTUNES FERREIRA (4F1C-EE08-D89A) | CIÊNCIAVITAE

 

Mariana RODRIGUES, University of Lisbon

Mariana Mealha Rodrigues is a bachelor finalist in International Relations at the Superior Institute of Social and Political Sciences (ISCSP) at the University of Lisbon. She was also an Erasmus+ student at the Faculty of International and Political Sciences at the University of Lodz, in Poland. She is an intern at the Military Academy, where she is consolidating her knowledge in Security, Strategy and Defense.

References

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

FERREIRA, P. ., & RODRIGUES, M. (2025). Between Authority and Resistance: the Political Evolution of Gaza from 1948 to Hamas. BULLETIN OF "CAROL I" NATIONAL DEFENCE UNIVERSITY, 14(2), 200–214. https://doi.org/10.53477/2284-9378-25-23

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Articles