Hamas

Hamas, formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian nationalist and Sunni Islamist political organisation that also operates a military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. It has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007, exercising de facto authority over the territory following its conflict with the rival Palestinian faction Fatah. Founded in 1987 by the Palestinian cleric Ahmed Yassin amid the First Intifada, Hamas emerged out of the earlier Mujama al-Islamiya charitable network affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Over time, it became one of the most influential political and social movements in Palestinian society, combining religious ideology, welfare provision and armed resistance against Israeli occupation.

Origins and Formation

Hamas arose at a moment of intense social and political mobilisation across the Palestinian territories during the First Intifada. Prior to 1987, the Gaza-based Muslim Brotherhood—active in local charitable institutions, mosques and social organisations since the 1950s—had largely refrained from joining national resistance efforts. This posture shifted decisively when the Brotherhood adopted a more activist and nationalist orientation, forming Hamas as its political and militant expression. The movement differentiated itself from the largely secular Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), positioning itself as both a religiously rooted and socially responsive alternative.
In the movement’s early stages, its influence expanded rapidly through mosque networks, educational institutions and welfare programmes. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hamas also developed its armed capacities, framing resistance as a central religious duty and national obligation.

Political Rise and Governance in Gaza

Hamas entered formal politics during the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, campaigning on a platform emphasising anti-corruption, social welfare and commitment to resistance against occupation. The movement won a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council, defeating Fatah, the dominant faction within the Palestinian National Authority.
Political tensions between the two movements escalated into violent clashes in 2007, culminating in Hamas seizing control of the Gaza Strip in the Battle of Gaza. Since then, Hamas has governed Gaza independently of the Palestinian Authority, while Fatah retained control of institutions in the West Bank. The territorial and political split has shaped Palestinian politics for nearly two decades.
Following the takeover, Israel intensified existing movement restrictions and imposed a comprehensive blockade on Gaza. Egypt also heavily restricted cross-border movement. These cumulative restrictions significantly impacted Gaza’s humanitarian situation, economy and infrastructure. The governance environment under Hamas has included periods of civil administration, factional rivalry, internal repression and reliance on a mixture of public institutions and parallel structures aligned with the movement.

Armed Conflict and Relations with Israel

Hamas has been central to repeated cycles of conflict in the Israeli–Palestinian arena. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, it carried out suicide attacks and other armed operations against Israeli targets. After taking control of Gaza, it engaged in successive confrontations with Israel, including major escalations in 2008–2009, 2012, 2014 and 2021. The October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel—which resulted in significant civilian casualties and mass hostage-taking—triggered the extensive Gaza war that followed and reshaped regional dynamics.
The movement’s armed activities include rocket fire, tunnel operations, cross-border raids and engagement through its military wing. Israel, along with several states and international bodies, designates Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Other states maintain political or diplomatic contacts with the movement, reflecting differing international positions on the conflict.

Ideology, Political Aims and Shifts

Hamas promotes a blend of Palestinian nationalism and Sunni Islamist ideology. While its founding charter from 1988 articulated maximalist goals, including a state across the whole of historic Palestine, the movement’s political discourse has changed over time. From the mid-2000s onwards, Hamas leaders repeatedly signalled openness to a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and endorsed reconciliation understandings with Fatah that accepted internationally recognised principles such as a two-state framework and the right of return. Documents such as the Cairo Agreement, the Prisoners’ Document and the Mecca Agreement reflect these positions.
In 2017, Hamas issued a revised political document that accepted a state within 1967 borders while maintaining its refusal to recognise Israel formally. The movement has also offered long-term ceasefire arrangements (hudna) in the context of possible negotiated frameworks, although these proposals have remained politically contested.

Foreign Relations

Hamas’s external relations have fluctuated in response to regional dynamics. Historically, it has engaged with Egypt, Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey. The Arab Spring significantly impacted these ties, particularly regarding its relationship with Syria, where internal divisions emerged over the Syrian conflict. Qatar and Iran have remained among Hamas’s most consistent backers, providing political and material support.
Internationally, the movement is both diplomatically isolated by some governments and engaged by others seeking to mediate in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Hamas’s political bureau, historically based in Damascus and later in Doha, conducts the movement’s external diplomacy.

The Israeli–Palestinian Conflict and Key Issues

Hamas is a major actor in the broader matrix of issues underpinning the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Central among these are the status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, control of borders, access to water resources, internal Palestinian governance structures and the right of return for Palestinian refugees. Hamas opposes the Israeli occupation and frames resistance—including armed resistance—as a legitimate response.
Gaza’s humanitarian conditions, severely constrained by blockade and recurrent conflict, form a critical aspect of the movement’s environment. Restrictions on movement, limited access to essential goods and services, and cyclical destruction have compounded existing socioeconomic challenges in the territory.

Contemporary Dynamics and Impact

Hamas remains one of the most influential Palestinian political and military actors. Its governance of Gaza continues to shape Palestinian internal politics, its conflict with Israel remains a defining regional issue and efforts at reconciliation with Fatah have yet to produce lasting unity. Internationally, states remain divided in their engagement with the organisation, reflecting broader disagreements over conflict resolution, counter-terrorism policy and regional alliances.
The movement’s combination of ideological commitment, political competition and armed activity ensures that it occupies a central and often contentious place in Middle Eastern politics. Its actions and evolving positions continue to influence both local dynamics in Gaza and the broader trajectory of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with significant implications for regional stability and humanitarian conditions.