Editing Hamas (section)

== History ==
{{main|History of Hamas}}

Hamas was established in 1987, and allegedly has its origins in [[Egypt]]'s [[Muslim Brotherhood]] movement, which had been active in the [[Gaza Strip]] since the 1950s and gained influence through a network of mosques and various charitable and social organizations. Unlike other Palestinian factions, after the [[Six-Day War|Israeli occupation of Gaza in 1967]], the Brotherhood in Gaza refused to join the resistance boycott against Israel.{{sfn|Filiu|2012|p=55}} In the 1980s, it emerged as a powerful political factor, challenging the influence of the [[PLO]], whose [[Fatah]] faction it had played a core role in creating.{{sfn|Filiu|2012|p=55}} In December 1987, the Brotherhood adopted a more nationalist and activist line under the name of Hamas.{{sfn|Filiu|2012|p=66}} Hamas was initially discreetly supported by Israel as a counter-balance to the secular [[PLO]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Khalidi |first1=Rashid |title=The Hundred Years' War on Palestine |date=2020 |publisher=Metropolitan Books |isbn=978-1-627-79855-6 |page=223}}</ref> During the 1990s and early 2000s, the organization conducted numerous suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel.<ref name="Kimmerling">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6NRYEr8FR1IC|title=The Palestinian People: A History|last=Kimmerling|first=Baruch|year=2009|page=372|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674039599|access-date=31 July 2024}}</ref>

In the Palestinian legislative election of January 2006, Hamas gained a large majority of seats in the [[Palestinian Parliament]], defeating the ruling [[Fatah]] party. After the elections, conflicts arose between Hamas and Fatah, which they were unable to resolve.<ref name=Newsweek1>[http://www.ifcj.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=13130 "The Gangs of Gaza"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708081039/http://www.ifcj.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=13130 |date=8 July 2010 }}, ''[[Newsweek]]'', 26 June 2006.</ref><ref>al-Mughrabi, Nidal and Assadi, Mohammed. [http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03862017.htm Palestinian in-fighting provokes despair, frustration] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207211606/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03862017.htm |date=7 December 2008 }}, [[Reuters]], 3 October 2006.</ref><ref name="canadafreepress.com">{{cite news|title=The Palestinian National Unity Government|url=http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/inss022407.htm|accessdate=4 June 2010|date=24 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814062056/http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/inss022407.htm|archive-date=14 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah in a [[Fatah-Hamas conflict#Conflict|series of violent clashes]], and since that time Hamas has governed the [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]] portion of the [[Palestinian Territories]], while at the same time they were ousted from government positions in the [[West Bank]].<ref name="BBC-Hamas-who">{{cite news|title=Who are Hamas?|publisher=BBC News|date=26 January 2006|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1654510.stm|location=London|access-date=23 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124204240/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1654510.stm|archive-date=24 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/exposing-the-bitter-truth-of-gaza-carnage/2007/06/22/1182019365851.html Exposing the bitter truth of Gaza carnage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113182446/http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/exposing-the-bitter-truth-of-gaza-carnage/2007/06/22/1182019365851.html |date=13 January 2009 }} ''[[The Age]]'', 23 June 2007</ref> [[Israel]] and [[Egypt]] then imposed an [[economic blockade on Gaza]] and largely sealed their borders with the territory.<ref name="iht.com">[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/09/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Palestinians.php "Gaza faces economic disaster if blockade continues, U.N. official warns"] International Herald Tribune</ref><ref name="washingtonpost.com">Dion Nissenbaum. [http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/jerusalem/2008/12/olmert-aide-supports-free-gaza.html "Olmert aide supports free Gaza"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006090950/http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/jerusalem/2008/12/olmert-aide-supports-free-gaza.html |date=6 October 2014 }}. [[McClatchy Newspapers]]. 8 December 2008.</ref>

After acquiring control of Gaza, Hamas-affiliated and other militias launched rocket attacks upon Israel, which Hamas ceased in June 2008 following an [[Egypt]]ian-brokered ceasefire.<ref name="ITIC">{{cite web|date=December 2008 |title=The Six Months of the Lull Arrangement pdf |work=Tel Aviv Terrorism Information Center |url=http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hamas_e017.pdf |accessdate=15 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013120923/http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/hamas_e017.pdf |archivedate=13 October 2009 }}</ref> The ceasefire broke down late in 2008, with each side accusing the other of responsibility.<ref name="ynetnews.com">[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3626260,00.html Qassam lands in western Negev, no injuries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106123823/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3626260,00.html |date=6 January 2011 }} [[Ynet News]] 20 November 2008</ref> In late December 2008, [[2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict|Israel attacked Gaza]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232292897399&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813132815/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232292897399&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |archivedate=13 August 2011 |date=19 January 2009 |title=Pool of 8 foreign journalists allowed into Gaza |first=Etgar |last=Lefkovits |url-status=dead }}</ref> withdrawing its forces in mid-January 2009.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5558389.ece "Israel withdraws its troops from Gaza"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510005808/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5558389.ece |date=10 May 2011 }} ''Times Online''</ref> Since 2009, Hamas has faced multiple military confrontations with Israel, notably the 2012 and 2014 Gaza Wars, leading to substantial casualties. Hamas has maintained control over Gaza, often clashing with the Palestinian Authority led by Fatah. Efforts at reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah have seen limited success. Hamas continued to face international isolation and blockades, while engaging in sporadic rocket attacks and tunnel construction activities against Israel.

On 7 October 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militants [[October 7 attacks|attacked]] Israel killing nearly 1,200 Israelis, about two thirds of them civilians.<ref name=F24231215>{{cite news |title=Israel social security data reveals true picture of Oct 7 deaths |date=15 December 2023 |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231215-israel-social-security-data-reveals-true-picture-of-oct-7-deaths |work=[[France 24]] |access-date=4 January 2024 |archive-date=17 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217222630/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231215-israel-social-security-data-reveals-true-picture-of-oct-7-deaths |url-status=live }}</ref> Approximately 250 Israeli civilians and soldiers were [[Gaza war hostage crisis|taken to the Gaza Strip]], with the aim of securing the release of [[Palestinian prisoners in Israel]] (as part of a prisoner swap).<ref>{{cite news |author=Al Jazeera Staff |title=Hamas says it has enough Israeli captives to free all Palestinian prisoners |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/7/hamas-says-it-has-enough-israeli-captives-to-free-all-palestinian-prisoners |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> Hamas said its attack was in response to Israel's [[Israeli-occupied territories|continued occupation]], [[Blockade of the Gaza Strip|blockade of Gaza]], and [[International law and Israeli settlements|settlements expansion]], as well as alleged [[Al-Aqsa is in danger|threats]] to the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] and the plight of Palestinians.<ref name="aj7oct-invasion">{{cite news|date=7 October 2023|title=Fears of a ground invasion of Gaza grow as Israel vows 'mighty vengeance'|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/7/world-is-watching-fears-grow-of-a-massive-gaza-invasion-by-israel|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|access-date=8 October 2023|archive-date=8 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008024318/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/7/world-is-watching-fears-grow-of-a-massive-gaza-invasion-by-israel|url-status=live}}</ref> There are also reports of [[Sexual and gender-based violence in the 7 October attack on Israel|sexual violence]] by Hamas militants, allegations that Hamas has denied.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hamas says October 7 attack on Israel was a 'necessary step' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/21/hamas-says-october-7-attack-was-a-necessary-step-admits-to-some-faults |access-date=22 January 2025 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> Israel responded by [[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)|invading the Gaza Strip]], killing over 70,000 Palestinians, 59.1% of them women, children and the elderly according to a peer-reviewed study in ''[[The Lancet]]''.<ref name="JamaluddineAbukmailAlyCampbellChecchi2025">{{Cite journal |last1=Jamaluddine |first1=Zeina |last2=Abukmail |first2=Hanan |last3=Aly |first3=Sarah |last4=Campbell |first4=Oona M R |last5=Checchi |first5=Francesco |date=January 2025 |title=Traumatic injury mortality in the Gaza Strip from Oct 7, 2023, to June 30, 2024: a capture–recapture analysis |journal=The Lancet |volume=405 |issue=10477 |pages=469–477 |language=en |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02678-3 |doi-access=free|pmid=39799952 }}</ref>

On 31 July 2024, [[Ismail Haniyeh]] was [[Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh|assassinated]] in [[Tehran]], after attending the inauguration ceremony of Iranian president [[Masoud Pezeshkian]].<ref name="reuters31july">{{Cite news |last1=Al-Mughrabi |first1=Nidal |last2=Hafezi |first2=Parisa |date=31 July 2024 |title=Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran, Hamas says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-chief-ismail-haniyeh-killed-iran-hamas-says-statement-2024-07-31/ |access-date=2 August 2024 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> In August 2024, [[Yahya Sinwar]], the leader of Hamas in Gaza, was elected chairman of the group, replacing Haniyeh. Per Hamas officials, he was elected due to his considerable popularity in the [[Arab world|Arab]] and [[Islamic world|Islamic]] worlds following the [[7 October attacks]] and his strong connections with Iran and the "[[Axis of Resistance]]," an informal Iranian-led political and military coalition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Behind the scenes as Hamas chose its new leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyl3yg7wzzo |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=www.bbc.com |date=8 August 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Khadder |first1=Kareem|last2=Lister|first2= Tim |first3=Abeer |last3=Salman | first4=Eyad |last4=Kourdi | first5= Tara | last5=John |date=6 August 2024 |title=Hamas names Oct. 7 architect Yahya Sinwar new political leader. What does it mean for ceasefire talks? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/06/middleeast/hamas-yahya-sinwar-political-bureau-intl-latam/index.html |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> On 16 October 2024, IDF troops [[Killing of Yahya Sinwar|killed]] Sinwar during a routine patrol and a chance encounter in southern Rafah.<ref name="BBC 2024-10-17">{{Cite news |first=Graeme |last=Baker |title=How Israel killed enemy number one Yahya Sinwar |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czj9zzz8xm7o |date=17 October 2024 |access-date=19 October 2024 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> In January 2025, the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', citing Israeli sources, reported that Sinwar's younger brother, [[Mohammed Sinwar]] (aka ''Shadow''), was leading Hamas. It's sources said that Israel were "working hard to find him" and that Izz al-Din Haddad, of al-Qassam Brigades, were the two most senior commanders in the Gaza Strip.<ref name="wsj20250113">{{cite web |title=Hamas Has Another Sinwar. And He's Rebuilding. |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/hamas-has-another-sinwar-and-hes-rebuilding-0a16031d |publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=14 January 2025 |date=13 January 2025}}</ref> On 19 January 2025, [[2025 Gaza war ceasefire|a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel]] went into effect.

In January 2025, Hamas confirmed that its senior military chief, [[Mohammed Deif]], was killed by Israel 's military in July last year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hamas confirms death of military chief Mohammed Deif |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9p33xd2go |work=www.bbc.com |date=30 January 2025}}</ref> On 18 March 2025, Israel broke the ceasefire and shelling of the territory continued.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Badshah |first1=Nadeem |last2=Ambrose |first2=Tom |last3=Lowe |first3=Yohannes |last4=Belam |first4=Martin |last5=Lamb |first5=Kate |last6=Livingstone |first6=Helen |last7= |first7= |last8= |first8= |date=18 March 2025 |title=Israel strikes that shattered ceasefire 'just the beginning', Netanyahu says, after deadliest 24 hours in Gaza since 2023 – as it happened |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/mar/18/israel-gaza-live-blog-updates-air-strikes-strip-netanyahu-hamas?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with:block-67d947cb8f08d62d8e6fac79#block-67d947cb8f08d62d8e6fac79 |access-date= |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hasson |first=Nir |date=27 March 2025 |title=In one of the Gaza war's darkest nights, the IDF killed nearly 300 women and children |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-03-27/ty-article-magazine/.premium/in-one-of-the-gaza-wars-darkest-nights-the-idf-killed-nearly-300-women-and-children/00000195-d949-da7e-adb7-f9d9e5760000 |access-date= |work=Haaretz |language=en}}</ref> In March 2025, Ismail Barhoum, a member of Hamas’s political bureau was killed in an Israeli attack on [[Nasser Hospital]] in [[Khan Yunis|Khan Younis]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=Al Jazeera |title=Israeli strike on Gaza hospital kills Hamas leader, teen, officials say |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/24/israeli-strike-on-gaza-hospital-kills-hamas-leader-teen-officials-say |work=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref> In April 2025, Yahya Fathi Abd al-Qader Abu Shaar, the head of Hamas' weapons smuggling network, was killed by Israeli army.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli strikes kill Palestinians in tented area for displaced in Gaza |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yrl891j23o |work=www.bbc.com |date=18 April 2025}}</ref> On 13 May 2025, [[Mohammed Sinwar]], Hamas leader in Gaza and the brother of  Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip. Mohammed Shabana, commander of the Rafah Brigade, was also killed in the same strike.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hamas Leader Muhammad Sinwar's Body 'Found in Gaza Tunnels': Report |url=https://www.newsweek.com/hamas-leader-muhammad-sinwar-body-found-gaza-tunnels-2073748 |work=Newsweek |date=18 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>