Sara Roy > Quotes

“The dominant conceptualization of Islamic social activism in Palestine as a channel for political violence and Islamic terrorism is highly oversimplified, stereotypical, and at odds with the actual facts on the ground.”
― Sara Roy, [(Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector)] [Author: Sara Roy] published on

“The situation in Gaza and the West Bank is wholly unsustainable. If Palestinians continue to be denied what we demand for ourselves—an ordinary life, dignity, livelihood, protection, and a home (in short, freedom)—then violence, division, and decline will intensify. At stake is an entire generation of Palestinians. If they are lost, we shall all bear the cost.”
― Sara Roy, Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector

“[Hamas firing a few dozen rockets at Israel in December 2008 does] not explain the disproportionality of the Israel attack [Operation Cast Lead], especially against the history of severe sanctions and attacks in the preceding months and years. While no one disputes a nation's right to self-defense, the record demonstrates that Israel was the far greater aggressor. [...] In fact, Hamas rockets had very little if anything to do with Israel's attack. […] This was an attack against the Palestinian people and their continued resistance—be it by Hamas or by the people of Gaza—and their consistent refusal to accede to Israeli demands and conditions.”
― Sara Roy, [(Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector)] [Author: Sara Roy] published on

“The need to engage Hamas at all levels remains vital, a position articulated by several analysts and negotiators including John Hume, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the Belfast Agreement, and a group of senior intelligence officers at the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in June 2010.”
― Sara Roy, [(Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector)] [Author: Sara Roy] published on

“Take her to America, please. At least you can feed her." [Spoken by a poor Gazan mother offering Sara Roy her 10-year-old daughter.]”
― Sara Roy, [(Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector)] [Author: Sara Roy] published on

“In backing [Mahmoud] Abbas and his new government [in spite of Hamas' 2006 election victory], the US and the international community openly supported the dismantling of a democratically elected government in the Middle East, one that they had helped to install.”
― Sara Roy, [(Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector)] [Author: Sara Roy] published on

“Hamas seeks to derive prestige and political profit from social welfare activism precisely by maintaining the professionalism and integrity of such institutions rather than politicizing them. It appears to understand better than others that if schools and medical clinics developed a reputation as recruitment centres, and services were provided in exchange for support, the crown jewels of the Islamist movement would be irretrievable debased in exchange for short-term gains of dubious value. [Quoting the International Crisis Group]”
― Sara Roy, [(Hamas and Civil Society in Gaza: Engaging the Islamist Social Sector)] [Author: Sara Roy] published on