Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and militant organization. It has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 after winning elections and then taking full control following a conflict with the rival Fatah party. Hamas's primary base of operations and support is the Gaza Strip, but it also has a presence in the West Bank and Lebanon, and some leaders operate from Arab countries and Turkey. It has a military wing known as the al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas was founded in 1987 in Gaza by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood. It opposes the existence of Israel and seeks to establish an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. Hamas oversees social welfare and political activities in the Gaza Strip, which is a narrow, densely populated territory bordering Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea. Since its takeover of Gaza, Hamas has been involved in multiple conflicts with Israel, including the major wars in 2008-09, 2012, 2014, 2021, and ongoing conflicts since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. It remains headquartered politically in Qatar and has significant ties to regional allies such as Iran, Hezbollah, and Turkey. In summary, Hamas is primarily located and governs the Gaza Strip but also operates in the West Bank and maintains leadership abroad in various countries.
