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.
While Egypt has played a mediatory role in all previous wars and crises between Israel and Hamas since 2007, its current involvement appears to be more extensive.
This does “nothing” for regime change, said Dr. Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian lecturer at Reichman University, as he explained that the impact would largely be domestic.
The Elyakim sisters were released as part of the hostage release and ceasefire deal in late November.
Ex-IDF intel chief Farkash: Khamenei, not Raisi, makes policy
US calls on Hamas to free hostages • IDF recovers hostage body • Drone lands in northern Israel
"I wanted to sing "October Rain" tonight. This is my prayer to bring everyone back home. I will not stop making our voice heard in Israel and worldwide until everyone returns home," Golan said.
Pro-Iranian influences are muddying the waters of ideology in the Middle East, and the rest of the world.
Israeli Minister Gantz sets June 8 deadline for Gaza plan. Threatens to exit government if demands unmet. Netanyahu office responds with ultimatums.
The massive turnout was due to a Jewish kid being pushed and shoved and being told that his attackers would "do to him what Hamas did to Israel."
Hundreds of pieces of terror infrastructure have been destroyed, including weapons production sites and rocket launching sites.
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