What is Hamas? - Everything You Need To Know!

Introduction

What is Hamas: Recently, due to a surprise attack by Hamas (a Palestinian terrorist organization) on Israeli civilians, which resulted in 1400 innocent Israelis dying, Hamas has been brought into the visibility of the world. 

There are people who are willing to know about Hamas and ask questions like, "What is Hamas?", "Why did Hamas attack Israel?", "What has Hamas done?" and many more similar questions.

In this blog, we have presented you the answers to all these questions. You can enhance your knowledge by reading this blog and also share this knowledge with everyone you know.

So, let's start:-

 

 

What is Hamas?

Hamas is a Palestinian political and terrorist group established in 1987 during the First Intifada, an uprising against Israeli rule in the occupied Palestinian territories. Originating as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas was founded by figures like Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, and Mahmoud Zahar.

The group's 1988 charter calls for the establishment of an Islamic state in historic Palestine, including present-day Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and opposes the existence of Israel.

Hamas is known for its use of violent tactics, including suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Israeli targets.

It has been designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, Israel, Canada, and the European Union. Since 2007, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip, where it has been involved in multiple conflicts with Israel.

 

 

Why Hamas in News?

Hamas is in the news for launching a surprise and highly coordinated attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. 

This large-scale attack, which involved dozens of Hamas terrorist using various means including motorcycles, pickup trucks, boats, paragliders, and 5000+ mid-range rockets, infiltrated Israeli cities, hit civilian areas including military bases, killed civilians including 500+ innocent infants by selecting them particularly, raped women of all ages, and took Israeli civilians  hostages.  By this attack, till now, more than 1400 Israelis have been direct casualties.

This event is considered the largest attack from Gaza and the worst security crisis Israel has faced in 50 years. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas, who controls the Gaza Strip.

To date, Israel has eliminated more than 3000 in Palestine and Gaza by their retaliation, which includes civilians, terrorists, children, and many innocents (obviously terrorists  were hiding under the residential areas and also firing their ammunition from there, resulting in more civilians and innocent casualties than terrorists).

Recently, an rocket was fired near al-Ahli Arab Hospital, which led 500 casualties including man women children(Mostly). Blame-Game have been started. Israeli forces are trying to proving that they are not behind this barbaric attack, while Hamas also refusing to take the credits of it.

Israeli defence forces have alleged that due to visit of US President Biden in Israel, Hamas fired an rocket on Israeli land but unfortunately, that rocket got misfired and hit the nearby hospital which led this barbaric tragedy.

For all these reasons, Hamas is in the news.

 

 

Origins and Roots of Hamas

Hamas originated as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a transnational Sunni Islamist organization founded in Egypt in 1928.

The Muslim Brotherhood made its presence known in British-ruled Palestine in the 1930s, focusing on reorienting Muslim society while the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) championed Palestinian nationalist sentiments.

Hamas was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, and Mahmoud Zahar during the First Intifada, a mass uprising against Israeli rule in the occupied territories.

 

Rise of Hamas

In response to the First Intifada, Hamas issued its charter in 1988, which called for the establishment of an Islamic state in historic Palestine and the destruction of the state of Israel.

The group's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched its first attack in 1989, abducting and killing two Israeli soldiers.

Unlike the PLO, which was modeled around leftist guerilla national movements, Hamas had a vision rooted in Islamist politics and anti-Semitic remarks.

 

 

Evolution and Tactics

Over the years, Hamas has conducted several suicide attacks and rocket attacks against Israeli military and civilian targets. The group's tactics and violent resistance have helped it gain popularity among Palestinians, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

In 2006, Hamas won legislative elections in the Palestinian territories, forming a government that faced opposition from Israel and most international powers. 

The group has shown signs of moderation over time, offering a lasting ceasefire (hudna) if Israel returns to the 1967 border, and adopting a new charter in 2017 that expunged anti-Semitic remarks.

 

 

Hamas in the Gaza Strip

Since 2007, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip after ousting Fatah, the PLO's backbone. The group has engaged in multiple conflicts with Israel, including the 2008-2009 Gaza War, the 2012 Gaza-Israel conflict, and the 2014 Gaza War.

Despite facing targeted assassinations, categorization as a terrorist organization, and frequent Israeli attacks, Hamas has survived and continues to play a key role in the region.

 

 

Conclusion

Hamas remains a significant player in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and any resolution to the conflict would likely need to involve the group. While Hamas's tactics and objectives have been a source of controversy and concern, its impact on the political landscape of Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip, cannot be ignored. Understanding the history and evolution of Hamas is crucial for anyone seeking to comprehend the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

 

 

FAQ’s - General Questions Asked by People, related to Hamas

Question: What are Hamas fighting for?

Answer. Hamas is fighting for the establishment of an Islamic state in historic Palestine, encompassing present-day Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip, and opposes the state of Israel.

Question: Who is Hamas fighting against?

Answer. Hamas is primarily fighting against Israel.

Question: What do Hamas stand for?

Answer. Hamas stands for Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah, which translates to the Islamic Resistance Movement.

Question: Why is Israel and Hamas at war?

Answer. Israel and Hamas have been at war due to longstanding political and territorial conflicts, including disputes over land and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Question: Does Hamas support Israel?

Answer. No, Hamas does not support Israel and is opposed to the existence of the state of Israel.

Question: Who controls Palestine?

Answer. The West Bank is administered by the Palestinian Authority, while the Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas.

Question: What is Hamas country?

Answer. Hamas is a Palestinian political and militant group and does not have a country.

Question: Why do Israel and Palestine fight?

Answer. Israel and Palestine fight due to historical, political, Religious, and territorial disputes, including over the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and control of Jerusalem.

Question: Who funds Hamas?

Answer. Hamas has received funding from various sources, including Iran and private donors from the Arab world.

Question: Does China support Hamas?

Answer. China has expressed support for the Palestinian cause, but it's unclear to what extent it directly supports Hamas.

Question: Which country is supporting Hamas?

Answer. Iran has been a key supporter of Hamas.

Question: Is Hamas Sunni or Shia?

Answer. Hamas is a Sunni Muslim organization.

Question: Does Qatar support Hamas?

Answer. Qatar has provided financial and political support to Hamas.

Question: Does Palestine have an army?

Answer. Palestine does not have a formal army. The Palestinian Authority has security forces, and Hamas has its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

Question: Is China a friend of Israel?

Answer. China has diplomatic relations with Israel, but it has also expressed support for the Palestinian cause.

Question: Does China accept Palestine?

Answer. China has expressed support for the Palestinian cause and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Question: Who runs Gaza today?

Answer. The Gaza Strip is currently governed by Hamas.

Question: Does Turkey support Hamas?

Answer. Turkey has expressed support for the Palestinian cause and has maintained ties with Hamas.

Question: Is Turkey supporting Palestine?

Answer. Turkey has expressed support for the Palestinian cause and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Question: Is Gaza Sunni or Shia?

Answer. Gaza is predominantly Sunni Muslim.

Question: Why does Iran support Hamas?

Answer. Iran supports Hamas as part of its broader strategy to challenge Israeli and U.S. interests in the region and to promote its own influence.

Question: Why did Hezbollah fight Israel?

Answer. Hezbollah has fought Israel due to historical, political, and territorial disputes, including over the occupation of southern Lebanon by Israeli forces.

Question: Is Hamas legal?

Answer. Hamas is considered a legal political party in Palestine, but it has been designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, Israel, Canada, and the European Union.

Question: Who funds Palestine?

Answer. Palestine receives funding from various sources, including international donors, the Palestinian diaspora, and Arab countries.

Question: Who is funding Israel?

Answer. Israel receives funding from various sources, including the United States, which is its largest donor, as well as from private donors and organizations.

Question: Who originally owns Israel?

Answer. The question of who originally owns Israel is a matter of historical and political debate. The area has been inhabited by various groups over the millennia, including the ancient Israelites, Canaanites, and others.

Question: How many religions are there in Israel?

Answer. Israel is a religiously diverse country with Judaism being the majority religion. Other religions practiced in Israel include Islam, Christianity, Druze, and Bahá'í.

Question: Who used to own Israel?

Answer. The question of who used to own Israel is a matter of historical and political debate. The area has been ruled by various empires and groups over the centuries, including the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate, and others.

Question: Who lived in Palestine first?

Answer. The area known as Palestine has been inhabited by various groups over the millennia, including the Canaanites, Philistines, and ancient Israelites.

Question: Which countries support Israel?

Answer. Israel has diplomatic relations with many countries, including the United States, Canada, European countries, and some Arab countries.

Question: What was the name of Israel before Israel?

Answer. The area now known as Israel was referred to as the British Mandate of Palestine before the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.