Hamas

Hamas is a large group in a place called Gaza.

A man named Ahmed Yassin started it long ago. It grew from a group that helped people.

Hamas won an election in 2006. After that, they took control of Gaza. This led to much fighting with a land called Israel.

Many people have been hurt in these wars. It is a very hard time for those living there. The group and Israel have fought many times since then.

Hamas is a Palestinian group.

It was started in 1987 by Ahmed Yassin. It grew from a charity group. Hamas has a military wing. We call this part the al-Qassam Brigades.

Hamas won a big election in 2006. In 2007, they took control of the Gaza Strip. This led to a long conflict with Israel. Israel and Egypt both put limits on Gaza. These limits are called a blockade.

Many wars have happened since then. In 2023, Hamas and Israel had a very big fight. This fight caused many people to die. Many countries call Hamas a terrorist group. Hamas leaders have changed over time. Yahya Sinwar was a leader in Gaza. He was killed by Israeli troops in 2024. His brother, Mohammed Sinwar, was also a leader. Reports say he was killed in 2025. Fighting has continued in the area. It is a very difficult place for many people to live.

Hamas is a Palestinian political group with a military wing.

The name is an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement. It is a Sunni Islamist group. This means it uses Islamic ideas to guide its politics and goals. The group also has a military part called the al-Qassam Brigades.

This group has been a major part of Palestinian life for many years. It works to promote Palestinian nationalism through an Islamic lens.

How Hamas works involves both politics and military action. In the past, it grew from a charity group called Mujama al-Islamiya. This group was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas has held power in the Gaza Strip since 2007. It governs this area separately from the Palestinian National Authority. To keep control, it uses its political leaders and its military wing. This has led to many years of conflict and tension with Israel.

The history of Hamas began in 1987. A scholar named Ahmed Yassin founded the movement. It started during a time of unrest called the First Intifada. At first, Israel gave the group some support. They did this to balance the power of the secular PLO. In 2006, Hamas won a majority in the Palestinian elections. They promised to run a government without corruption. By 2007, they took full control of the Gaza Strip after fighting with the Fatah party.

Many important events and people have shaped the group. In 2023, a large conflict began after attacks on October 7. This led to many deaths and much destruction in Gaza.

Leaders have changed often during these hard times. Ismail Haniyeh was a leader who was killed in July 2024. Yahya Sinwar took over as leader in August 2024. He was later killed by Israeli troops in October 2024.

His brother, Mohammed Sinwar, also led the group before he was killed in 2025.

Hamas is viewed very differently around the world. Many places, like the United States and the United Kingdom, call it a terrorist organization.

Other groups see it as a movement for Palestinian rights. The group's goals have also changed over time. In 1988, their rules were very different. By 2017, they released a new charter. This new document discussed a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. This shows how much the history of the region continues to change.

Hamas is a Sunni Islamist Palestinian nationalist political organization.

The name is an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement. It includes a military wing known as the al-Qassam Brigades.

Since 2007, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip. This territory is part of the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The group promotes Palestinian nationalism through an Islamic context. It operates as both a political body and a military force.

The movement grew from an Islamic charity called Mujama al-Islamiya. This charity was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. In 1987, the scholar Ahmed Yassin founded Hamas. This happened during the First Intifada, a period of unrest. Initially, Israel provided discreet support to the group. They wanted to balance the secular Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). This was intended to prevent the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Hamas eventually became a powerful political factor that challenged the PLO's influence.

Hamas rose to political power through elections and conflict. In the January 2006 Palestinian legislative election, Hamas won a majority. They campaigned on promises of a corruption-free government. They also advocated for resistance to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation. Following the election, clashes occurred between Hamas and the rival Fatah faction. In the 2007 Battle of Gaza, Hamas seized full control of the Gaza Strip. Since then, Hamas has governed Gaza separately from the Palestinian National Authority.

Political goals and official documents of Hamas have evolved. The 1988 Hamas charter was described as antisemitic. However, a new charter was released in 2017. This document removed antisemitic language and targeted Zionists instead of Jews. The 2017 charter supported a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. It did not, however, recognize the state of Israel. Hamas has also discussed a "hudna," or long-term truce. This would be a cessation of hostilities based on the 1967 borders. Some officials say a long-term ceasefire and a two-state settlement are the same thing.

The relationship between Hamas and Israel involves frequent military conflict. After taking control of Gaza in 2007, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade. This blockade restricted movement and trade in the territory. Hamas and Israel have fought several wars. These include conflicts in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, and 2021. On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other militants attacked Israel. This attack killed nearly 1,200 Israelis, about two-thirds of whom were civilians.

Hamas also took approximately 250 hostages into the Gaza Strip.

In response to the 2023 attacks, Israel invaded the Gaza Strip. This led to massive loss of life and destruction. A study in The Lancet reported that over 70,000 Palestinians were killed. This number included 59.1% women, children, and the elderly.

Many areas of Gaza were destroyed by military action. The leadership of Hamas has also faced significant changes during this time. Many high-ranking members have been killed in military operations.

Leadership transitions have been frequent during recent years. Ismail Haniyeh was a prominent leader who was assassinated in Tehran in July 2024. Yahya Sinwar became the chairman in August 2024. He was later killed by Israeli troops in October 2024. Following his death, reports suggested Mohammed Sinwar led the group. However, unconfirmed reports in May 2025 stated he was also killed. The group's military and political structures have been heavily impacted by these losses.

Global views on Hamas are deeply divided. Many nations have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. These include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan. The European Union also holds this designation.

However, at the United Nations, motions to condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization have failed to meet the required two-thirds threshold. Hamas maintains foreign relations with countries like Egypt, Iran, Qatar, and Turkey. These relationships help shape the group's role in Middle Eastern politics.