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.
If Israel is not free to act without the blessing of Western powers, their support is a mixed blessing indeed.
The exhortations from various leaders following the April 13 attacks that Israel now seek to “de-escalate” would suggest that many in the West want to give the Iranians precisely what they seek.
International support through Israel Bonds (Development Corporation for Israel in the United States) has accounted for $3 billion in worldwide investments since the outbreak of the war.
The Middle East is now approaching a new crossroads in history. Iran launched a regional war on Israel in the wake of the October 7 attack by Hamas.
ABC report says targeted was connected to nuclear site • IDF said to have killed PIJ commander in West Bank • US, EU issue new sanctions on settlers
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.
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