who are the hamas

Hamas is a Sunni Islamist Palestinian nationalist political organization and militant movement. It was founded in 1987 by Palestinian Islamic scholar Ahmed Yassin amid the First Intifada uprising against Israeli occupation. Hamas originated from the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and has a military wing called the al-Qassam Brigades. It has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 after winning the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections and then seizing control from the rival faction Fatah. The group is known for its violent resistance against Israel, including rocket attacks and suicide bombings, and it opposes Israel's existence, aiming to establish an Islamic Palestinian state in historic Palestine. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by numerous countries including the United States. It has received significant support from Iran and some other regional actors. The group’s charter historically called for the destruction of Israel, but a 2017 document hinted at conditional acceptance of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders without recognizing Israel. Since October 2023, Hamas launched a major attack on Israel, leading to extensive conflict and casualties on both sides.