Five Facts on Hamas

The recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas surprised many and shocked the conscience of the world. But Hamas has never hidden its stated goal to destroy the state of Israel.  

Here are Five Facts on Hamas. 

1. Hamas was established on Dec. 14, 1987.  

Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Islamic Resistance Movement), and its name translates to "zeal" in Arabic​. Hamas emerged in the late 1980s as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a political and religious movement founded in Egypt in 1928 to establish Islamic political rule. Hamas has a distinct ideological identity rooted in militant Palestinian nationalism and Islamism, or political Islam, aimed at establishing an independent Islamic state in historical Palestine​. 

2. Hamas’ founding charter calls for the destruction of Israel. 

The Hamas Covenant, issued on Aug. 18, 1988, enshrined the fundamental ideologies and objectives of the “Islamic Resistance Movement.” A notable aspect of the charter is its call for the destruction of the state of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian Islamic state. The document delineates a genocidal stance against Jews, noting, “Our struggle against the Jews is very great and serious.” It ultimately aspires for the establishment of an Islamic state in Palestine in place of Israel and the Palestinian Territories. 

3. The U.S. and several of its allies have designated Hamas a terrorist organization. 

In 1997, the United States designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. Other nations and international bodies, including Israel, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and the European Union, have also designated Hamas a terrorist organization due to its history of violent activities. Known for organizing suicide bombings and other attacks that mainly target Israeli civilians, Hamas has carried out numerous military operations against Israel. 

4. Other Palestinian movements oppose Hamas. 

Hamas is an Islamist organization that seeks to establish theocratic rule in Israel and Palestine. This puts it into opposition with nationalist Palestinian groups like the Fatah Party, the dominant political force in the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which has jurisdiction over parts of the occupied West Bank. Unlike Hamas, Fatah recognizes the existence of Israel, drawing condemnation from Hamas. 

5. Hamas has effectively controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007.  

Following Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, which placed the enclave directly under Palestinian administration, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006 and started administering Gaza. Soon after Hamas engaged in a brief civil war with Fatah. Hamas won, established its control over the Gaza Strip and has maintained that control ever since.