HAMAS

Hamas, an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Islamic Resistance Movement), is a Palestinian militant and political organization. It was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian cleric, and several other Palestinian leaders in the late 1980s during the First Intifada, which was a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin played a prominent role in shaping Hamas’s ideology and objectives.in 1987 during the First Intifada (Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation). Hamas emerged as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, with the goal of resisting Israeli occupation and establishing an Islamic state in historic Palestine.

Hamas gained popularity through social services, charity work, and military activities. It has been involved in numerous conflicts with Israel, launching rockets from Gaza and engaging in armed resistance. Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, leading to a brief period of governance in Gaza. This created political tensions with Fatah, the rival Palestinian political party, and eventually led to the division of the Palestinian territories, with Hamas controlling Gaza and Fatah governing the West Bank.

Hamas has been labeled a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and the European Union. The group has faced international isolation and sanctions but remains a significant political and military actor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its history is complex and deeply intertwined with the ongoing challenges in the region.