A political earthquake hit Hamas following the ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. Frustration plagued both members and leaders of the Islamic movement in the Gaza Strip. They were hoping that the Islamic governance project would succeed with the rise of Islamists — the Muslim Brotherhood in particular — in Arab Spring countries, and the world’s new openness toward this project.

In statements regarding their crisis, Hamas leaders have tried to maintain calm. They also took a position of self-defense in light of efforts on the part of anti-Muslim Brotherhood Egyptian media outlets to incite hatred against Palestinians, especially those in the Gaza Strip. Yet, despite these efforts, tension and disappointment seemed clear in the ranks of the leaders in this coastal region. These leaders clearly support the actions of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt to oppose the military “coup” against Islamists.

A Hamas leader confirmed to Al-Monitor the emergence of signs of “disappointment” that the movement experienced, and is still experiencing, as a result of Morsi's sudden fall. The movement had raised its hopes high with Morsi’s arrival to power. After he opened prospects for greater empowerment of Hamas’ rule in the Gaza Strip, this enhanced the power of Islamists in Arab, Islamic and Western countries.

One leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al-Monitor, “The movement, particularly at the level of its bases, is in the midst of a setback that has been unprecedented for decades. This came as a result of the closure of the main door in the face of the Hamas movement, which we thought would open other political doors for us and make the Islamic movement a major power in the Arab world.”