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.
Despite only being worth between 100,000 and 150,000 shekels, each drone smuggling operation costs one million dollars.
"We have decided not to move these captives from those areas and to keep them under strict security measures - but their lives are in extreme danger."
A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.
This specific butterfly was chosen to honor Ariel not just for its orange wings, but because Ariel is one of Jerusalem’s 70 names, the academy explained.
The London mayor cited Hamas figures on the Gaza death count and claimed the deaths were "betrayals of humanity."
Some signs held at the protest read in Arabic, “Enough killing…Enough silence and inaction. The occupation continues its massacre with American support.”
Mahmad Salah Mohammad Bardawil served as Hamas's propaganda and psychological warfare operative.
IDF probe reveals failure to protect Nirim during Hamas attacks • Ten soldiers, five civilians killed • Eight soldiers, five hostages taken hostage.
A Hamas command and control center that was used for planning and executing terror attacks was destroyed during the activity, the IDF said.
Hamas: Live hostages held in areas IDF trying to evacuate, operate in • IDF chief Eyal Zamir meets with hostage families
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