Hamas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Islamic Resistance Movement
حركة المقاومة الإسلامية
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Emblem of Hamas' political wing
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| Chairman of the Political Bureau | Yahya Sinwar † |
| Deputy Chairman of the Political Bureau | Khalil al-Hayya |
| Chairman of the Shura Council | Abu Omar Hassan |
| Leader in the Gaza Strip | Yahya Sinwar † |
| Military commander | Mohammed Deif X |
| Founder |
... and others
Mahmoud al-Zahar
Mohammad Taha Imad al-Alami Abdul Fatah Dukhan Ibrahim Fares Al-Yazouri 'Isa al-Nashshar Ibrahim Quqa Mohammed Hassan Shama'a Hassan Yousef |
| Founded | December 10, 1987 |
| Split from | Muslim Brotherhood (disputed) |
| Headquarters | Gaza City, Gaza Strip |
| Military wing | Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades |
| Ideology |
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| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Political alliance | Alliance of Palestinian Forces |
| Colours | Green |
| Palestinian Legislative Council |
74 / 132
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| Party flag | |
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| Website | |
| https://hamasinfo.info/ | |
| Hamas | |
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| Dates of operation | 1987–present |
| Headquarters | Gaza City, Gaza Strip |
| Size | 40,000 |
| Allies |
State allies:
Non-state allies:
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| Opponents |
State opponents:
Non-state opponents:
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| Battles and wars |
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| Designated as a terrorist group by | |
Hamas is a Palestinian political and military group. It is based on Sunni Islam beliefs. Since 2007, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip is a territory that is occupied by Israel.
The name Hamas is a short form of an Arabic phrase. This phrase is حركة المقاومة الإسلامية. It means "Islamic Resistance Movement."
Contents
The Founding of Hamas
Hamas was started in 1987 by Ahmed Yassin. He was a Palestinian imam and activist. This happened after the First Intifada began. The First Intifada was an uprising against the Israeli occupation.
Hamas grew out of an Islamic charity. This charity was called Mujama al-Islamiya. Ahmed Yassin had started it in 1973. It was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Hamas in Government
In 2006, Hamas took part in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. They promised to fight corruption in government. They also said Palestinians had a right to resist the Israeli occupation. Hamas won many seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council.
In 2007, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip. They took it from a rival Palestinian group called Fatah. Since then, Hamas has governed Gaza. This is separate from the Palestinian National Authority.
After Hamas took control, Israel started a blockade of the Gaza Strip. Egypt also supported this blockade. There have been several conflicts with Israel since then. These include wars in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, and 2021.
Recent Events
The current 2023 war started after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. This attack involved both civilians and soldiers. Hamas also took hostages back to Gaza.
Many people saw this attack as a big challenge for Israel. Israel has responded with an ongoing ground invasion of Gaza.
What Hamas Believes
Hamas supports Palestinian nationalism. This means they believe in the idea of a Palestinian nation. Their beliefs are also based on Islamic ideas.
In 1988, Hamas wrote down its main goals. They wanted to create an Islamic Palestinian state. This state would cover all of Mandatory Palestine.
Later, Hamas showed they might accept a Palestinian state. This state would be within the 1967 borders. They signed agreements with Fatah in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
In 2017, Hamas released a new document. It supported a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. However, it did not officially recognize Israel. Hamas has also offered truces for many years. Some experts see these offers as a step towards a two-state solution.
The 2017 document also said that Hamas's fight is with Zionists. Zionists are people who support the creation and development of Israel. The document stated their struggle was not with Jewish people.
International Views on Hamas
Hamas has carried out attacks. These attacks have been against Israeli soldiers and civilians.
Several countries and groups consider Hamas a terrorist organization. These include:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- The European Union
- Israel
- New Zealand
- Paraguay
- The United Kingdom
- The United States
In 2018, the United Nations voted on a motion to condemn Hamas. This motion was not approved.
See also
In Spanish: Hamás para niños
- Hamastan
- Politics of Palestine
- List of political parties in the State of Palestine
