What is a Hamas? It’s a crucial question in understanding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. At WHAT.EDU.VN, we provide clear, concise answers to complex questions, offering accessible insights into this important topic and more. Explore this guide to understand the definition, history, and implications of Hamas, along with insights into related subjects like geopolitical strategies and terrorism.
1. What Are The Origins Of Hamas?
Hamas, an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Islamic Resistance Movement), was founded in December 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Yassin, a Palestinian cleric, established Hamas as the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza following the outbreak of the first intifada.
At the time, Hamas aimed to engage in violence against Israelis to regain Palestinian support for the Brotherhood, which was losing ground to Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The organization’s initial goal was to establish an Islamic society in historic Palestine, calling for the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews, as outlined in its 1988 charter.
2. Who Are The Key Leaders In Hamas?
Hamas has various leadership bodies that handle political, military, and social functions. The politburo, operating in exile, sets the general policy, while local committees manage grassroots issues in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israel has targeted top Hamas officials since the group’s inception. Key figures include:
- Sheikh Ahmad Yassin: The founder of Hamas, killed by Israeli forces in 2004.
- Ismail Haniyeh: Served as political chief since 2017; reports indicate he was killed in a suspected Israeli bombing in Tehran in July 2024.
- Mohammed Deif: Hamas’s military leader, reportedly killed in a strike on Khan Younis.
- Yahya Sinwar: Replaced Haniyeh as political chief and was believed to be an architect of the October 7 attack; killed in an Israeli strike in October 2024.
- Issam al-Da’alis: Gaza’s de facto prime minister since 2021.
- Khaled Meshaal: A senior Hamas figure and a top contender to replace Haniyeh.
- Khalil al-Hayya: Has led Hamas’s mediated negotiations with Israel in Qatar.
3. How Is Hamas Financed?
Historically, Hamas was funded by Palestinian expatriates and private donors in the Persian Gulf. Today, Iran is one of Hamas’s biggest benefactors, contributing funds, weapons, and training.
Iran provides around $100 million annually to Hamas, PIJ, and other Palestinian groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States, according to 2021 U.S. State Department estimates. Turkey has also been a stalwart backer of Hamas, though Ankara insists it only supports Hamas politically.
4. Does Foreign Aid For Gaza Go Through Hamas?
Foreign aid generally reaches Gaza via the PA and UN agencies, such as UNRWA, though Hamas has reportedly diverted some of this aid. As a designated terrorist entity, Hamas and its government are cut off from official assistance that the United States and European Union (EU) provide to the West Bank.
The latest Israel-Hamas war has exacerbated the already extreme poverty in the Gaza Strip. UNRWA remains the primary aid distributor, but it suffered a massive funding cut following accusations that it employed Hamas members involved in the October 7 massacre.
5. How Has Hamas Governed Gaza?
Hamas became the de facto authority in Gaza shortly after Israel withdrew from the territory in 2005. The following year, Hamas won a majority of seats in the PA’s legislature and formed a government.
Hamas established a judiciary and put in place authoritarian institutions, governing in accordance with the PA’s sharia-based Palestinian Basic Law. However, it has generally been more restrictive than the law requires, including by controlling how women dress and enforcing gender segregation in public.
6. What Tactics Has Hamas Used Against Israel?
For decades, Hamas’s attacks on Israel mostly involved rocket and mortar strikes, mass shootings, and suicide bombings. They have also carried out incursions into Israeli territory, killing and kidnapping soldiers and civilians.
Prior to the 2023 conflict, Hamas and Israel had their deadliest fighting in years in 2021, when Hamas fired rockets into Israel following weeks of tensions between Palestinians and Israelis in Jerusalem. During the eleven-day conflict, Hamas and PIJ fired more than four thousand rockets from Gaza.
7. How Was Hamas’s Attack On Israel In 2023 Different?
Hamas’s 2023 assault on southern Israel, “Operation al-Aqsa Storm,” was extraordinary in its strategy, scale, and secrecy. It began on October 7 with Hamas launching several thousand rockets into southern and central Israel and infiltrating many southern Israeli towns and villages.
The attack resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths and numerous kidnappings, inflicting a deep psychological trauma on the Israeli people.
8. What Are Palestinian Views On Hamas?
Palestinian opinions of Hamas are mixed. Before October 7, the group had been unpopular in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, though Palestinians in both territories preferred Hamas to other political factions.
After October 7, support for Hamas in Gaza rose and nearly quadrupled in the West Bank, though this was not enough for it to gain majority support in either territory.
9. What Is The Current Situation For Hamas?
Israel is seeking to eliminate the threat that Hamas poses, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that “total victory” is the objective. Israeli officials have said that Hamas no longer constitutes an organized fighting force in northern Gaza.
U.S. President Joe Biden has put forth a phased cease-fire deal, but the negotiations remained stalled in October 2024.
10. Frequently Asked Questions About Hamas
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is Hamas’s stance on Israel? | Hamas violently rejects the existence of Israel, claiming it is occupying Palestine. |
| When was Hamas founded? | December 1987. |
| Who founded Hamas? | Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. |
| What is Hamas’s primary goal? | To establish an Islamic society in historic Palestine. |
| Which countries support Hamas? | Iran and Turkey. |
| What is the relationship between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority? | Hamas and Fatah (which dominates the Palestinian Authority) are rival parties with significant political and ideological differences. |
| How does Hamas govern Gaza? | Hamas governs Gaza with authoritarian institutions, enforcing its own restrictive interpretations of law and order. |
| What international designations does Hamas have? | Dozens of countries, including the United States, have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. |
| What was Operation al-Aqsa Storm? | Hamas’s 2023 assault on southern Israel marked by unprecedented strategy, scale, and secrecy. |
| How do Palestinians view Hamas? | Palestinian opinions of Hamas are mixed, with varying levels of support in Gaza and the West Bank. |
| What is the current military status of Hamas? | Despite suffering significant losses, U.S. intelligence estimates that Hamas still has several thousand fighters in Gaza, and that a majority of its tunnel networks there likely remain intact. |
| What efforts are being made towards a cease-fire? | U.S. President Joe Biden has put forth a phased cease-fire deal, but negotiations remain stalled as of October 2024. |
| Has Hamas moderated its charter over time? | In 2017, Hamas presented a new document that removed explicit references to killing Jews but still refused to recognize Israel. |
| What impact has the Israel-Hamas conflict had on Gaza’s population? | The latest conflict has devastated Gaza, exacerbating extreme poverty and displacing about 75 percent of its more than two million residents. |
| How has the international community responded to the conflict? | The international community’s response has been varied, with some countries pausing funding to UNRWA amid allegations of its employees’ involvement in the October 7 massacre. |
| How does Hamas raise revenue? | Historically through taxes on goods moving through tunnels circumventing the Egyptian crossing into Gaza, and currently through financial and material support from state and non-state actors. |
| What impact did the death of Yahya Sinwar have on Hamas? | The death of Yahya Sinwar was considered a major symbolic and operational success for Israeli forces. |
| What challenges do negotiations between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority face? | The Israeli government is unlikely to accept cooperation between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in administering Gaza, rejecting cease-fires that could allow Hamas to regroup. |
| What role do external actors like Iran and Turkey play in the Israel-Hamas conflict? | Iran provides significant financial and military support to Hamas, while Turkey has been a political backer. |
| How has the conflict affected international perceptions of UNRWA? | The conflict has led to a massive funding cut for UNRWA following accusations that it employed Hamas members involved in the October 7 massacre. |
Conclusion
Understanding what a Hamas is involves delving into its origins, leadership, funding, governance, and actions. It is essential to understanding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its broader implications. For more in-depth information and answers to your questions, visit WHAT.EDU.VN. We are here to provide clarity and insight, offering a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the complex issues shaping our world.
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