Hamas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Islamic Resistance Movement
حركة المقاومة الإسلامية
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Emblem of Hamas
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| Chairman of the Political Bureau | Hamas temporary committee |
| Chairman of the Shura Council | Muhammad Ismail Darwish |
| Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip | Vacant |
| Chairman of the Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip | Khalil al-Hayya (acting) |
| Military commander | Vacant |
| Founders |
... 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 | 10 December 1987 |
| Headquarters | Gaza City, Gaza Strip |
| Armed wing | Al-Qassam Brigades |
| Ideology |
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| Political position | Right-wing |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
| International affiliation | Axis of Resistance (informal) |
| Political alliance |
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| Colours | Green |
| Palestinian Legislative Council (2006) |
74 / 132 (56%)
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Hamas is a Palestinian political and military group. It is based on Sunni Islam beliefs. Its name, Hamas, is actually an acronym from an Arabic phrase that means "Islamic Resistance Movement." Its main goals are to inspire resistance among Palestinians and to defend and liberate Palestinian land.
Members of Hamas receive military training, and the group is organized into smaller units. The organization have carried out rocket attacks against Israel and engaged in guerrilla warfare tactics. They have also faced criticism for actions that have harmed civilians.
Since 2007, Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip is a territory that is occupied by Israel.
Contents
How Hamas Started
Hamas was founded in 1987 by Ahmed Yassin. He was a Palestinian imam and activist. Hamas started during a time when Palestinians were protesting against the Israeli occupation, known as the First Intifada. The organization grew out of a charity that Ahmed Yassin had started earlier.
In its early days, Hamas aimed to establish a Palestinian state across all the land that was once called Mandatory Palestine. It also focused on providing social services to people, like schools and aid, which helped it gain support. Hamas became known for its resistance against the Israeli occupation. Over time, it also carried out attacks, including some that caused harm to civilians.
In January 2006, Hamas participated in the Palestinian legislative elections. They campaigned on promises to create a government without corruption and to continue resisting the Israeli occupation. To many people's surprise, Hamas won a majority of the seats in the Palestinian Parliament.
After the elections, there were disagreements and conflicts between Hamas and another major Palestinian group called Fatah. These groups couldn't agree on how to share power. In June 2007, Hamas took full control of the Gaza Strip after a series of clashes with Fatah. Since then, Hamas has governed Gaza separately from the Palestinian National Authority, which is led by Fatah and governs parts of the West Bank.
Years of Conflict
After Hamas took control of Gaza, it has been involved in several military confrontations with Israel. These conflicts happened in 2008-09, 2012, 2014, and 2021. These periods of fighting led to many casualties and significant damage in Gaza.
In return, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip. This meant that movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza became very restricted.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian groups launched large-scale attacks into Israel. These attacks resulted in the deaths of many people, including civilians, and the taking of approximately 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers as hostages into the Gaza Strip. Hamas stated these attacks were in response to Israel's ongoing occupation, the blockade of Gaza, and other issues.
Israel responded with military actions in the Gaza Strip, which caused a very large number of Palestinian deaths, including many women, children, and elderly people, and damaged much of the area. This conflict has been ongoing since October 2023.
On January 19, 2025, a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel went into effect. However, on March 18, 2025, Israel broke the ceasefire, and shelling of the Gaza Strip continued.
Organization
Hamas has a main governing body called the Shura Council, which is based on the idea of consultation. This council elects a Political Bureau, which makes important decisions for the group. Leaders come from Gaza, the West Bank, and from outside the territories.
Hamas gets its money from various sources. It receives money from countries like Qatar and Iran, as well as from charities. It also has investments in different countries.
A big part of Hamas's work is providing social services. This includes running nurseries, schools, orphanages, and offering financial and medical aid. These services are very important to many Palestinians, especially because other government services might not be enough. This charitable work helps Hamas gain support from the community.
Media
Hamas uses different media to share its messages:
- Al-Aqsa TV: This television channel broadcasts programs, including children's shows, news, and entertainment. It has faced criticism for some of its content.
Hamas uses social media to communicate with people and share its views. It has been criticized for using social media to spread messages that some consider to be hateful.
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.
Human Rights Concerns
Hamas has been criticized for human rights violations, including how it treats people in Gaza and its actions during conflicts. It has also faced criticism for trying to control cultural activities, like music and books, in ways that some people found too strict.
Terrorist Designation
Many countries and organizations, including Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. This means they believe Hamas uses violence to achieve its political goals.
However, some countries, like Afghanistan, Algeria, Iran, Russia, Norway, [Turkey]], China, Egypt, Syria, and Brazil, do not consider Hamas a terrorist organization. They often view its armed struggle as legitimate resistance.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Hamás para niños
- Hamastan
- Politics of Palestine
- List of political parties in the State of Palestine
