Hamas is usually described as a fundamentalist organization. This is true in some ways but not in others. Hamas, like the Islamic Brotherhood, is primarily concerned with political power and social reform. There is no question but that under Hamas political rule women would be veiled and there might be public beheadings. Yet, Sharia law is not the main element in the Hamas outlook. Adherence to orthodox Islam is a programmatic necessity for Hamas as a means of inspiring people, and promoting party zeal and cohesion. But the Islam of Hamas is not the Islam of the Imams,the Islam of the middle ages.
The thrust of Hamas is not aimed primarily at prayer, sprituality or devotion. Rather, it resembles the Social Gospel Christianity of America in the late 19th century; more concerned with heaven On Earth that with the Almighty or the hereafter.(this is not to suggest that Hamas's appeal to faith is merely cynical and opportunistic. Faith is a very fluid commodity.)
In the event, I want to draw attention to the possiblity that our understanding of 'fundamentalism' may be oversimplified and misleading. It may be that the fundamentalism of Hamas is less a matter of zealotry and theological purity than we might think. It does not therefore follow that Hama will be more accommodating with Israel or the West. In the event, Hamas deserved to win by virtue of its' track record on corruption, administrative abilty and social service.