Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamic terrorist organization that operates primarily in Gaza and the West Bank, with holdings in Arab countries throughout the Middle East.
Hamas was an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood political movement, and was established in 1987 in the wake of the First Intifada. According to Hamas’s charter, the organization was established to liberate Palestine from Israel in order to establish an Islamic state. It holds aspirations on all territory between the Mediterranean seas and the Jordan river, and refuses to acknowledge Israel in any capacity.
The group has a military wing, known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas has used a wide range of tactics, but it does not discriminate in its targets, and often targets civilians. It is recognized by most Western states as a terrorist organization. Hamas has engaged in a number of military confrontations with Israel. Its military wing has employed tactics such as suicide bombings, rocket attacks, kidnapping attempts, and tunnel infiltrations against Israeli soldiers and civilians.
In 2006, the Palestinians held legislative elections in Gaza, but when Hamas won, there was a civil war, and Hamas seized full control of the Strip. Under Hamas, Gaza has been in a longstanding state of conflict with Israel. From the 2005 Israeli disengagement onwards, Hamas has continued to commit terrorist attacks against Israelis from Gaza, and several operations have been fought to quell Hamas attacks, including 2008's Cast Lead, 2011's Pillar of Defense, 2014's Protective Edge, and 2021's Guardian of the Walls.
The White House said the two sides then "broadened to include interagency delegations to discuss Rafah."
State officials cite Hamas and failing to meet membership criteria as reasons for the negative vote.
We know who's been taken, and we want them all back, Kirby said.
“I brought from Kyiv pieces of Iranian drones, called Shahed,” the Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk recalled for The Jerusalem Post during an interview this week.
"We, families of the hostages signed below, turned to you, Mr Arnon Bar-David, because the negotiations are stuck, and this may cost the hostages in Hamas captivity their lives," reads the letter.
This could be a signal of further additional movements toward attacking Hamas’s remaining battalions in Rafah or small portions of central Gaza.
An airstrike conducted by Israeli forces in central Gaza resulted in the death of a Hamas intelligence officer.
Hamas intelligence officer eliminated • ran warns of new nuclear strategy IDF strikes terrorist targets in Rafah • America signals approval of IDF Rafah op
The CMI's researchers allegedly have strong connections with UNRWA, have worked to justify the October 7 attacks, have pro-Palestinian agendas, and have even interviewed Hamas and PIJ members.
Bibas's sons, Kfir and Ariel, are among the youngest Israelis still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
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