--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 2009, Hamas was relatively new to…" description: "\"In 2009, Hamas was relatively new to power. It had won elections just three years earlier and was flexing its newfound strength via a war with its old ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/richard-engel-3133_destroyed_in-2009-hamas-was-relatively-new-to-powe_2087542.jpg" --- # In 2009, Hamas was relatively new to power. It had won… ![“In 2009, Hamas was relatively new to power. It had won elections just three years earlier and was flexing its newfound strength via a war with its old enemy, Israel, which it officially wants destroyed.” quote by Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/richard-engel-3133_destroyed_in-2009-hamas-was-relatively-new-to-powe_2087542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/richard-engel-3133_destroyed_in-2009-hamas-was-relatively-new-to-powe_2087542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/richard-engel-3133_destroyed_in-2009-hamas-was-relatively-new-to-powe_2087542.jpg) > “In 2009, Hamas was relatively new to power. It had won elections just three years earlier and was flexing its newfound strength via a war with its old enemy, Israel, which it officially wants destroyed.” [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights Hamas’s rapid rise to power and its aggressive stance toward Israel shortly after winning elections. **In simple terms:** Hamas quickly moved from election victory to conflict with Israel. Key Takeaway Recognize how quickly political groups can shift from electoral success to militarized actions. Themes politics conflict power dynamics Middle East radicalism Mood tense analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - election aftermath - regional security analysis - policy planning - peace negotiations Key Concepts state legitimacy militarization ideological conflict Questions to Reflect On - How does rapid power acquisition affect a group's strategies? - What factors drive a political movement toward militarization? A Different Perspective The statement may oversimplify Hamas’s internal politics and external pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [2009 Hamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/2009-hamas-4110387/) [Destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed/) [Earlier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earlier/) [Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Enemy Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy-israel-965168/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Hamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamas/) [Hamas Relatively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamas-relatively-4110388/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Officially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officially/) [Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Relatively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relatively/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Three years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three-years/) [Via](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/via/) [Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [Won](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/won/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [The most dangerous enemy to Israel's security is the intellectual inertia of those who are responsible for security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ben-gurion/the-most-dangerous-enemy-to-israel-s-security-is-the-intellectual/) [David Ben-Gurion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ben-gurion/) > [Turkey is not an enemy of Israel. 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