Understanding October 7 through Hamas's Adaptability and Leadership Structure.

This essay examines Hamas's pragmatic adaptability and its decentralized leadership structure in order to offer insight into the movement's decision to attack on October 7, 2023. It hones in on Hamas's decision-making processes since it gained control of Gaza in 2007, situating the discussion within regional and international attempts to contain the movement into mainstream politics. The essay presents a critique of this approach to Hamas since 2007, highlighting regional and international failures to engage with Hamas as both a resistance movement and governing -authority. Ultimately, the essay aims to clarify the complex interactions between Hamas's leadership model and regional actors that preceded the October 7 events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]