Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamic terrorist organization that operates primarily in Gaza and the West Bank, with holdings in Arab countries throughout the Middle East.
Hamas was an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood political movement, and was established in 1987 in the wake of the First Intifada. According to Hamas’s charter, the organization was established to liberate Palestine from Israel in order to establish an Islamic state. It holds aspirations on all territory between the Mediterranean seas and the Jordan river, and refuses to acknowledge Israel in any capacity.
The group has a military wing, known as the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas has used a wide range of tactics, but it does not discriminate in its targets, and often targets civilians. It is recognized by most Western states as a terrorist organization. Hamas has engaged in a number of military confrontations with Israel. Its military wing has employed tactics such as suicide bombings, rocket attacks, kidnapping attempts, and tunnel infiltrations against Israeli soldiers and civilians.
In 2006, the Palestinians held legislative elections in Gaza, but when Hamas won, there was a civil war, and Hamas seized full control of the Strip. Under Hamas, Gaza has been in a longstanding state of conflict with Israel. From the 2005 Israeli disengagement onwards, Hamas has continued to commit terrorist attacks against Israelis from Gaza, and several operations have been fought to quell Hamas attacks, including 2008's Cast Lead, 2011's Pillar of Defense, 2014's Protective Edge, 2021's Guardian of the Walls, and 2024's Operation Swords of Iron.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists carried out an unprecedented invasion of southern Israel under the cover of widespread rocket-fire, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping hundreds to serve as hostages in Gaza. This started the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, which has seen the IDF carry out numerous strikes in Gaza and carrying out a ground invasion to wipe the terrorist group out.
In the year since, the IDF has managed to take out most of Hamas's leadership, including Saleh al-Arouri, Mohammed Deif, Yahya Sinwar, and Ismail Haniyeh.
The IDF was supposed to reduce its presence on the Philadelphi Corridor and then withdraw from it completely over the course of the first 50 days.
Hamas’s armed wing has appointed new commanders and also begun repairing its underground tunnel network in preparation for the possibility of returning to war with Israel.
In multiple instances, the Arabic words for “Jews" were translated as “Israel” or “Israeli forces," or they were completely removed from the subtitles.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog, also explained that there were severe tensions between Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu.
600 Palestinian prisoners to be released as Hamas conditions second phase of hostage release
Volker Turk criticized both sides for humanitarian law violations, called for accountability, and warned against delegitimizing international institutions that uphold global law.
Hamas has been trading in its long-nurtured victim status in favor of a gloating, sadistic, and would-be murderous image.
The prisoner's release was initially set for Saturday but was later delayed because of Hamas's repeated ceasefire-hostage deal violations.
A former intelligence officer and Egypt expert spoke about the possibility that Egypt will take part in Trump's Gaza plan.
The community described the probe as “shocking, difficult, and further evidence” of the catastrophic failures that left the kibbutz defenseless.
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