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 Izz ad-Din 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, and 2021's Guardian of the Walls.
According to COGAT, about 100 food aid trucks were sent to northern Gaza on a daily basis over the past few weeks.
Burns’s emergency meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Thani in Doha is “aimed at exerting maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas to continue negotiating," an official briefed on the talks.
Netanyahu spoke as a Hamas delegation was in Cairo for hostage talks with CIA Director William Burns and officials from the mediating countries Egypt and Qatar.
In their second day of truce talks in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo, Hamas negotiators maintained their stance that any truce agreement must end the war.
Government officials who are unable to watch Hamas videos due to discomfort should make way for capable leaders committed to facing reality and safeguarding national interests.
Salah Jamil Muhammad Emad, the head of combat assistance in the al-Bureij battalion, was eliminated in a joint operation between the IDF and the Shin Bet.
Gaza deal not secure yet • Hamas delegation in Cairo for hostage deal talks • IDF strikes targets in Gaza • IDF kills terror cell in Tulkarm
The IDF has continued to pursue its main yet elusive target, Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, who is reportedly moving through different tunnels to evade the IDF.
Parents of combat soldiers issued a letter stating their concern for IDF ground operations in Rafah, referring to dangerous traps and preparation Hamas has made.
The Israeli government's long-standing policy of funding Hamas and the Gaza Strip to prevent outbursts of violence was a mistake, former Mossad director claims in interview.
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