Hamas (Written by the Israel Digital Center. Date of writing: 11/10/25)

The structure, strategy, and support behind Hamas’ war against Israel.

What Is Hamas?

Hamas, short for the “Islamic Resistance Movement,” is a radical Islamist terrorist organization whose goal is to establish a fundamentalist Palestinian state in place of the State of Israel.
The history of Hamas dates back to 1987, during the First Intifada, when Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi founded the organization. The group emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood, itself designated as a terrorist organization in several countries. Since its creation, Hamas’s objective has been clear: armed resistance against the State of Israel. Its 1988 charter declares that the solution to the “Palestinian problem” is jihad - a holy war.

Goals and Methods

Hamas seeks to establish a radical Islamic state across all of Israel, “from the river to the sea,” and to destroy the Jewish people.

The organization operates through several key channels:

Jihad: Warfare against anyone who is not Muslim.

Da’wah: Indoctrination and propaganda aimed at spreading Hamas’ ideology, recruiting supporters, and promoting violence against Israel.

Its network of education, preaching, and outreach is a central part of its strategy. Schools, mosques, and charities are run by the organization to instill hatred and extremist ideology from an early age, shaping a new generation of terrorists.

The military wing — the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades: Hamas’ armed force, funded through the organization’s finances (often via charitable fronts), conducts violent operations against Israel and works to expand the group’s influence, including through the indoctrination of children.

Hamas is not only a terrorist group of fighters but a structured organization composed of three main branches: political, social-religious, and military. The political wing oversees decision-making, external relations, and finances. The social-religious wing runs schools, mosques, and welfare institutions that serve as vehicles for propaganda and grassroots recruitment. The military wing is responsible for terrorism, weapons development, and attacks against Israel.

Who Controls the Gaza Strip?

Contrary to common belief, Israel does not control the Gaza Strip.
In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian parliamentary elections, but severe disputes with the Palestinian Authority led to violent clashes. In 2007, Hamas seized control of Gaza by force, expelled the Palestinian Authority, and has ruled the territory unilaterally ever since.
The group turned Gaza into a major base for terrorist activity against Israel, including constant rocket fire, the construction of terror tunnels, and the enhancement of its military capabilities.

Since taking power, the Hamas terrorist organization has maintained a tight internal security and censorship system in Gaza. It persecutes political opponents, journalists, and human rights activists, enforces strict religious laws, and uses civilians as human shields during conflicts with Israel. The group suppresses dissent through intimidation and military force.

Conflicts with Israel

The Second Intifada (2000–2005): A wave of suicide bombings in which over 1,000 Israelis were murdered.
Military operations: From 2006 to 2023, Israel and Hamas engaged in four major military operations and dozens of smaller escalations. Hamas launched tens of thousands of rockets at Israeli population centers.
The “Iron Swords” War (2023): On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal and unprecedented surprise attack on Israel. Approximately 6,000 terrorists infiltrated Israeli territory, murdered over 1,200 people, wounded more than 4,800, and kidnapped 251 civilians and soldiers to Gaza.
The attack included mass rocket fire, ground invasions, and acts of terror characterized by torture, rape, mutilation, and desecration of bodies. reflecting the organization’s extreme and violent nature.

Who Supports Hamas?

Hamas receives significant backing from states and international actors:

• Iran provides funding, weapons, and technological expertise.
  
  
  

• Qatar finances the group under the guise of humanitarian aid.
  
  
  

• Turkey serves as a safe haven for Hamas leaders.
  It also cooperates with other terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis.
  
  
  

Beyond state support, Hamas finances itself through an extensive independent network that includes taxation of Gaza residents, smuggling through tunnels, global investments, and charitable organizations established around the world. Some of these charities act as fronts for funneling money to the group.

How the World Sees Hamas

Many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Australia, officially designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Meanwhile, countries such as Iran, Russia, and Turkey treat it as a legitimate political movement.

In Summary

Hamas is not just a terrorist organization but a complex system combining extremist ideology, violent methods, and international support.

Through its mix of military power, religious jihad, and global funding networks, Hamas continues to pursue the destruction of the State of Israel.
Its rule over the Gaza Strip has also deeply harmed the Palestinian population itself, turning Gaza into a permanent battlefield, worsening the humanitarian crisis, and blocking any chance for independent civil and economic development.