Jul 21, 2025
What exactly is Hamas?
Hamas, or “The Islamic Resistance Movement,” is an extreme Islamic terrorist organization intended to establish a Palestinian religious state in place of Israel.
Hamas’s history began in 1987, during the First Intifada when it was founded by Ahmed Yassin and Abd al-Aziz al-Rantisi. It emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood movement – also considered a terrorist organization. Since its establishment, Hamas’s goal has been clear: armed resistance against Israel, with the organization’s 1988 charter declaring that the solution to the “Palestinian problem” is jihad – holy war.
Goals and Methods of Operation:
Hamas aims to establish an extreme Islamic state across all of Israel’s territory, “from the river to the sea” and to destroy the Jewish people.
Hamas operates through:
Jihad: War against all non-Muslims.
Dawa: “Education” and incitement aimed at bringing people closer to Islam and Hamas, convincing them of the righteousness of violent struggle against Israel, and encouraging violence against Israel.
Military Wing – Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades: Hamas’s army, funded by the movement’s money, sometimes through charity organizations, and used for violent struggle against Israel and building broad support for the organization, including among children.
Who controls the Gaza Strip?
Contrary to what the world thinks, Israel does not control the Gaza Strip. In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections, but serious disagreements with the Palestinian Authority led to internal conflicts. In 2007, Hamas forcibly took control of the Strip, ousted the Palestinian Authority, and has since been the sole ruler in the area. Hamas has turned the Gaza Strip into a central base for terrorist activities against Israel, including continuous rocket fire, construction of terror tunnels, and attempts to upgrade its military capabilities
