“Hamas, the Palestinian militant group has struggled to govern Gaza and remains committed to violently resisting Israel. Its surprise attack against Israel in 2023 threatens a wider conflagration in the Middle East (2013, CFR.org).”

Hamas, officially known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian political and militant organization founded in 1987 during the First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Hamas’s ideology is rooted in Islamic fundamentalism, and it seeks to establish an Islamic state in historic Palestine, which includes the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. It does not recognize the existence of Israel and calls for its destruction.

Hamas has a dual structure, with both political and military wings. In 2006, it won most seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections, leading to its control of the Gaza Strip. It has governed Gaza since then but is not recognized as the legitimate government of Palestine by most of the international community.

Hamas has been involved in numerous conflicts with Israel, launching rocket attacks from Gaza into Israeli territory and engaging in armed confrontations with Israeli forces. This attack has led to several military operations, such as Operation Cast Lead in 2008-2009 and Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

Hamas provides social services to the Palestinian population in Gaza, including education, healthcare, and welfare programs. These services have helped it maintain support among some segments of the population.

Many countries, including the United States and the European Union, classify Hamas as a terrorist organization due to its history of violence and its rejection of Israel’s right to exist. However, some countries and groups in the region, such as Iran and Qatar, have provided political and financial support to Hamas.

Hamas’s rivalry with the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah, has contributed to political divisions among Palestinians. Efforts to reconcile these factions and establish a unified Palestinian government have had limited success. Hamas’s role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its governance of Gaza remain central issues in the region, with significant implications for peace and stability.