Hamas is a Palestinian terrorist organization and the governing body in the Gaza Strip. Established in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas aims to annihilate the State of Israel and establish an Islamic State in its place, with its official charter calling for the death of all Jews. It is largely funded by external sources, the main one being Iran.
Hamas has been terrorizing Israeli and Palestinian civilians since its establishment, but is most known for its brutal invasion and massacring of civilians in southern Israel on October 7th, 2023.
Read an extended overview regarding the Hamas terrorist organization and its
activities.
What is Hamas? (Official IDF Overview)
Hamas’ Origins and Background: Where Did It All Start?
Hamas Leadership and Structure: Who are the Hamas leaders?
Hamas vs ISIS – What are the differences?
IDF Military Operations in Gaza since 2007
Hamas is a Palestinian terrorist organization, recognized by countries worldwide, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and the European Union. Hamas was established in 1987 under the leadership of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin. The organization, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, aims to establish an Islamic state, encompassing the entirety of present-day Israel, the Gaza Strip, and Judea and Samaria through violent armed conflict. Hamas’ charter calls for the killing death of all Jews and does not recognize Israel's right to exist.
Hamas’ center of operations is Gaza, however, it has operatives in Judea and Samaria as well. It directs terrorist activities against civilians from both regions. Following Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Hamas was elected in the 2006 Palestinian Authority (PA) legislative elections, gaining control over the areas that were then under the PA’s control including Gaza and Judea and Samaria.
However, Hamas refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist and refused to cooperate with Israel, the PA or the UN in the manner agreed upon prior to the elections. A year later, in 2007, Hamas seized control over Gaza in a bloody coup. Its operatives murdered or expelled all members of the Fatah , the party that opposed them in the elections and have been ruling Gaza as an Islamic dictatorship ever since.
Hamas’ terrorist attacks are funded by Iran and carried out by the terrorist organization's military wing, known as the ‘Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The military wing is led by Mohammed Deif, and is responsible for some of the most inhumane terror attacks in history, including the Dolphinarium and Sbarro suicide bombings during the Second Intifada.
In addition to suicide bombings, since the mid 2000’s, Hamas has fired barrages of rockets towards Israel, attempted to invade on ground, aerially and navally, from Gaza, as well as directed and executed range of other assaults including shootings, abductions, and the massacre of over 1,400 people on October 7, 2023.
What Does Hamas Stand For?
Hamas, an acronym for the Arabic spelling of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Harakat Al-Mukawama Al-Islamiya). But Hamas actually stands for violence and terrorism.
Hamas’ Origins and Background: Where Did It All Start?
Hamas was founded on December 14th, 1987, by Sheikh Yassin as part of an effort to integrate the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza. The organization was founded in the wake of the First Intifada, relying on an extremist, anti-Western, anti-Israel charter that supported Jihad. The principles of the charter emphasize that Hamas was, ideologically, an Islamic revivalist movement with a mission to wage Jihad “until the enemy is vanquished and Allah's victory is realized”. This ideology continued to intensify, prompting the United States to officially designate the organization and its leaders as terrorists in 1997.
In 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip in a process known as the “Disengagement”. In elections conducted in January 2006, Hamas won the PA’s parliamentary election
At the time, the United States, Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union (The ‘quartet’) declared that the Hamas government would need to recognize the State of Israel, end its terrorist activities, and adhere to previous agreements to receive foreign aid. This was, of course, rejected by Hamas.
Following ongoing tension with the Palestinian Authority Hamas violently took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. This created a rift between the PA and Hamas. Within days of the coup, Hamas had executed dozens of its opponents from the Fatah party and PA security personnel. The Hamas coup ultimately cost the lives of about 600 Palestinians, with 188 killed in one week in June 2007.
Hamas has controlled Gaza ever since and imposed the totalitarian ideology expressed in its charter. Hamas controls what Gazan civilians say, what Gazan children learn and spreads propaganda and hatred in every way possible, from major news outlets and social media to children’s TV shows in Gaza. Hamas passed legislation to segregate boys and girls in schools, force women to cover their hair, and ban them from leaving their home without permission from a male guardian.
What Is Hamas’ Charter?
The Hamas charter, written in 1988, serves as the foundational document encapsulating the movement's extremist ideology, which has remained consistent throughout its 18-year existence. It is rooted in a radical Islamic and jihadist worldview and heavily based on the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood.
According to the charter, Hamas aims to "establish the sovereignty of Allah over the entire land of Palestine." Hamas is characterized by its resolute refusal to engage in negotiations or make concessions with Israel, maintaining that the only resolution to the Palestinian issue is through Jihadism (utilizing violent confrontation to create change).
Hamas’ charter refers to the "problem of Palestine" as a religious-political Muslim issue and frames the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a clash between Islam and the "infidel" Jews. "Palestine" is deemed sacred Islamic land, and yielding even an inch of it is strictly forbidden, as no one, including Arab-Muslim leaders, holds the authority to do so. In terms of international relations, the charter espouses an extremist worldview that aligns with the anti-Western sentiments seen in groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.
This perspective results in an absolute refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist as an independent, sovereign nation, alongside a commitment to massacre all Jewish people and discriminate against other minority groups. Hamas’ charter opens with a quote attributed to Hassan Al-Bana, one of the founders of the Muslim Brotherhood, stating that "Israel will arise and continue to exist until Islam wipes it out, as it wiped out what went before."
Hamas Leadership and Structure: Who are the Hamas leaders?
Hamas spans political, military and social functions across the Gaza Strip. Its policy is set by the Politburo, a consultative
Hamas has a political wing and a military wing. Its policy is set by the political wing, a consultative body headed by Ismail Haniyeh that operates in exile. Hamas’ external political leadership focuses on maintaining diplomatic relations with various countries and terrorist groups, and is primarily focused on securing funding and weapons in order to support Hamas’s operations in Gaza. Daily affairs within Gaza are overseen by Yahya Sinwar, previously the leader of Hamas’s military wing and currently the leader of the Hamas in Gaza.
Hamas’ military wing is known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The wing was founded in 1991 and has focused since on significantly expanding its capabilities. As of 2023, these capabilities include long-range rockets, huge arsenals of short range rockets, aerial units, naval commandos, the Nukhba special forces and an internal security force known as al-Majd. The brigades are led by Mohammad Deif and his deputy, Marwan Issa. Deif himself was classified as a global terrorist by the United States. Hamas’ military wing on all its forces and capabilities are responsible for the October 7th Massacre and the murder, rape and brutalization of countless of civilians.
Hamas Arsenal
While designated as merely a terrorist organization, Hamas boasts a massive and sophisticated arsenal. This includes weapons and capabilities developed in-house as well as weapons smuggled into Gaza. One major source of these weapons, as well as the source for Hamas’ continuous funding of hundreds of millions of dollars, is Iran. This was made particularly clear when the IDF identified and seized the Klos-C, an Iranian shipment of arms destined for Hamas.
It is estimated that prior to 2023, terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip held an arsenal of over 10,000 rockets. While the majority of these rockets are considered short range rockets with ranges of up to 20 kilometers (12 miles), they also have between hundreds and thousands of mid-range rockets that target central Israel. During the War with Hamas in 2023, Hamas repeatedly targeted northern Israel, reaching as far north as the Carmel Mountains.
In addition to the rocket arsenal that Hamas launches at the Israeli homefront, they are equipped with a wide array of weapons such as assault rifles, hand guns, explosive devices, RPGs, grenades, mines, UAVs, anti-tank missiles and more. Hamas’ aerial array has evolved as well, and includes observation and attack drones.
Hamas Tunnels
The Hamas terrorist tunnel system has been Hamas’ top priority since taking over Gaza in 2007. Hamas claims that their tunnels stretch over 500 kilometers and are dozens of meters below the ground.
The tunnels are used as a way to transport weapons and for the terrorists to move underground unseen. They are equipped with electricity, water, air and communication systems Hamas does not just hide and manufacture weapons within these underground tunnels and compounds but has been known to use them to invade Israel and attack and abduct Israelis. Additionally, The tunnels are constructed using humanitarian funds and materials supplied to Gaza by Israel and other countries and organizations.
The tunnels’ access points are often located below civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, mosques, kindergartens and apartment buildings thus turning the Palestinian people into human shields.
Hamas vs ISIS – What are the differences?
Over the last 30 years, Hamas has claimed to maintain the Muslim Brotherhood affiliation but has adopted an ideology and opted to use operational methods:
- Similar approaches to key Jihadi concepts like jihad against Jews and the eradication of the State of Israel
- The establishment of an Islamic nation in the spirit of the Quran
- Practicing Jihad
Hamas’ operational tactics were most on display in Hamas’ October 7th, 2023 attacks, which included the gruesome murder, rapings, beheadings and torching of women, elderly, children and even babies. These attacks represented a shift that had been underway for some time, as Hamas' spiritual leader, Yusuf Al-Qardhawi, had previously distinguished between Hamas as a Muslim Brotherhood movement, and what he has referred to as the 'violent groups' (Jumaat Al-'unf), headed by ISIS. In the comparison, he promoted Hamas’ “defensive” jihad methods, however this approach has clearly changed into an extremely offensive, brutal and inhumane one.
IDF Military Operations in Gaza since 2007
Operation Summer Rains (28 June – 26 November 2006)
Operation Cast Lead (27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009)
Operation Pillar of Defense (14–21 November 2012)
Operation Brother's Keeper (June 2014)
Operation Protective Edge (8 July – 26 August 2014)
Operation Guardian of the Walls (May 2021)
Hamas’ 2023 Attack on Israel
On October 7th, 2023, thousands of armed Hamas terrorists tore down large parts of the Gaza security fence using tractors, RPGs and explosives and invaded southern Israel. Simultaneously, Hamas terrorists in Gaza fired thousands of rockets toward Israel.
Some 1,500 terrorists successfully broke through the fence in vehicles and by foot. Some used motorized paragliders to fly over the fence, and others attempted to invade through the sea, aiming for Israel’s Zikim Beach.
The terrorists split up and made their way to a number of Israeli towns and IDF bases surrounding Gaza. They invaded the towns, shooting everything in sight. They broke into civilian homes, shooting, burning, raping and beheading. Over 1,300 civilians were murdered, and over 200 were abducted. Hamas terrorists briefly took control of about 10 Israeli towns, terrorizing and brutalizing their residents.
Simultaneously, additional terrorists drove on to the Nova Music Festival, which took place in a nearby open area. Partygoers were waking up to the sound of sirens and attempting to evacuate due to the threat of rockets. The terrorists fired indiscriminately at the thousands of civilians.
They massacred hundreds, raped young women, brutalized bodies, and abducted many. 260 bodies were later found in the area of the festival, most of them belonging to young men and women—innocent youth.
IDF forces operated to neutralize the terrorists and thwart their infiltration; however, the terrorists were also ambushing IDF bases, killing soldiers and hurling grenades and explosives. Still, field observers used a sniper sighting system, tanks fired shells, and combat helicopters and special forces were deployed to the scene.
Many were lost not only during the initial attacks but also during the prolonged, bloody battles to regain control of the towns and bases surrounding Gaza, clear them from terrorists and rescue as many hostages held in Israeli territory as possible.
October 7th will forever be remembered as a dark day in Israel’s history and in humanity’s history. A reminder that there are humans capable of utterly inhumane things
For more on this, please see the Hamas - Israel War 2023 page.
Summary
Since its inception, Hamas has advocated for violence and incited toward it in its war against the State of Israel and its residents. This escalated significantly with its takeover of Gaza in 2007 and has led to repeated attacks on the Israeli homefront. With extensive funding and backing from Iran, an oppressed domestic population in Gaza and a radical charter that espouses only death and destruction, Hamas remains a dangerous threat to the State of Israel. This is why the IDF must dismantle Hamas’ military and administrative capabilities in Gaza and restore security and freedom to all civilians affected by Hamas.
