Why Hamas is so popular in Palestine

On the day Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and his 24-member Cabinet were sworn in to take the Palestinian helm, the United States and Canada formally cut ties with the government, thereby cutting off international aid.

Hamas has so far refused to give up their stubborn stance against Israel, whom they consider an oppressive occupier. But why is Hamas so popular to the Palestinians who voted for them enmasse?

Veteran CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, who has covered her share of political conflicts, offers this insight:

You would think that after more than 50 years of one of the most intimately chronicled conflicts in human history -- Israelis vs. Palestinians -- there would be nothing new to say, no surprises.

You would be wrong.Hamas, the radical Islamic movement that has launched suicide attacks in Israel, won the Palestinian elections in January, thereby creating two firsts:
1. The first time a regime has changed in the Arab world democratically through elections;
2. The first time an Islamist group has come to power through elections.

Hamas gained support in Palestine through two decades of building an effective and affordable social welfare system in Gaza. It runs most of the kindergartens, funds health clinics, and provides welfare checks to widows and orphans.

During this year's election, Palestinians fed up with the rampant corruption and lawlessness of the late Yasser Arafat's government turned to the only alternative, Hamas.

So when people ask: "Why did the Palestinian people elect a terrorist group?" The answer is because they see them as a lifeline.

Each time I go to the Palestinian territory of Gaza, I am shocked by the reality on the ground. On a recent visit, I passed through a short tunnel from the First World in Israel and emerged into the Third World that is Gaza. The poverty there is among the worst in the world.

Hamas officials told me they did not expect to win the election as overwhelmingly as they did. They say their main priority now is to meet the demands of the people for a better life.

But that may be impossible, because Israel and the United States refuse to deal with Hamas and have already cut funding to the new Palestinian government.

Posted By Christiane Amanpour