Björn Brenner is a lecturer at the Swedish Defence University in Stockholm and a research fellow at Institut français du Proche-Orient in Amman, Jordan. He has conducted extensive field research in Syria, Jordan and Palestine. His latest book Gaza Under Hamas: From Islamic Democracy to Islamist Governance, published by I.B.Tauris, was named best academic book of the year on Palestinian affairs at the 2017 Palestine Book Awards.
The kidnapping and murder of an Italian activist illustrates the context in which Hamas
has faced increased opposition from Salafi-Jihadi groups, which filled the vacuum left
by Fateh's exile from Gaza in 2007.