By Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Editorial Team
October 19, 2023
Overview
Hamas, short for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Harakat Al-Mukawama Al-Islamiya), is a Palestinian Islamist group, recognized as a terrorist organization by dozens of countries, including the US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Israel.
Established in 1987 under the leadership of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, Hamas originated as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood with a clear objective: to establish an Islamic state encompassing the entirety of present-day Israel, Judaea and Samaria, and the Gaza Strip through armed conflict. With a charter that clearly calls for the death of all Jews, the fundamentalist terror organization does not recognize Israel's right to exist.
Hamas operates a military known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. It is responsible for carrying out acts of terrorism against Israelis. Its attacks include rocket barages, ground, air, and sea invasions from the Gaza Strip, as well as a range of other assaults including shootings, suicide bombings, and the invasion, massacre, and abductions of over 1,000 people on October 7, 2023.
Hamas Rise to Power: Short History of Hamas in Gaza
In 2005, Israel withdrew from Gaza, uprooting all communities and military installations within Gaza. This allowed the PA (Palestinian Authority) full control of the area and the Rafah land crossing to Egypt.
In January 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian Parliamentary election (although it did not win the presidential election in 2005).
Following the election, the International Quartet (United States, Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union) declared that in order for the then Hamas-run Palestinian government to continue to receive foreign aid, it must recognize the State of Israel, end terrorist activities, and adhere to all previous agreements. Hamas rejected these terms, and international aid was halted.
Over the years, Hamas has challenged the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, causing conflicts between the sides, culminating in June 2007 with Hamas’s violent takeover of the Gaza Strip and the suppression of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority members. Ever since, the rift between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority has grown.
The Hamas terrorist organization and their leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. It has both a political and a military organization. Hamas refuses to recognize the State of Israel and vows to fight until Israel is destroyed. The Hamas charter calls for the death of all Jews. The US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Israel all recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization.
In June 2007, Hamas violently took power over the Gaza Strip. Within a few days, Hamas executed dozens of its opponents and went as far as pushing them out of building windows.
Hamas’s fight against its enemy, Fatah, has cost the lives of 600 Palestinians, killed 188 people in one week in June 2007. Numerous Palestinians threatened with death, took refuge in Israel.
Hamas puts its political interests above those of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, of which they are responsible. Hamas’ actions deprive Gazans of their rights and basic needs.
Since then, the Hamas controls the Gaza Strip and imposes its totalitarian ideology. Hamas controls what Gazan civilians say, what their children learn, and spreads propaganda and hatred through TV, especially on children’s programs.
Hamas' Military Wing
Hamas’ military wing, the cornerstone of the movement, is a manifestation of the ideology of resistance (Muqawama). During its brief history, the military wing, called the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has carried out hundreds of terror attacks against Israeli civilians. In total, Hamas has committed over 90 suicide and bombing attacks, launched nearly 12,000 rockets and 5,000 mortars and has killed over 650 innocent civilians.
In a terror campaign it led in the 1990’s, Hamas carried out suicide bombings at restaurants, buses and public venues, killing hundreds of Israelis and derailing the fragile peace process. At the onset of the second Intifada, Hamas intensified its terrorist activity, culminating in a suicide attack at a Passover dinner at the "Park Hotel" (27 March, 2002) that resulted in 30 dead and 155 wounded civilians. Almost 40% of suicide attacks by Palestinians in 2000-2005 were committed by Hamas.
Hamas’ military power is also the main reason for its decade-long control of the Gaza Strip. After Hamas’ parliamentary victory in 2006, it sought to strengthen its grip on the Gaza Strip by establishing its own security force ("The Executive Force"), which answers only to the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry. The Executive Force and the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades were the main forces that took over the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led coup and the subsequent purge of Fatah rivals.
The period of 2006-2009 saw no decrease in Hamas' propensity for conflict with Israel. After Hamas took over Gaza, it quickly intensified the mortar and rocket fire from Gaza into Israel, with rocket attacks rising from 488 in 2005 to 2,427 in 2007. Some of Hamas’ main targets were the civilian crossings into Gaza, which were routinely attacked by mortar and rocket fire, terrorist raids, tunnels and suicide attacks. The relentless attacks against the civilian lifeline of Gaza have greatly curtailed the operation of the crossings, and ultimately necessitated the shutdown of some (Karni, Sufa) and relocation of their operations to Kerem-Shalom. The process has reduced the capacity for economic and civilian ties between Israel and Gaza, further exacerbating the economic hardship in Gaza. Hamas has attempted to replace the ties with Israel with ties to Egypt vis-à-vis the "tunnel economy," gaining significant dividends from controlling the trade and smuggling. However, these efforts ran afoul of the Egyptian authorities after Hamas orchestrated a popular storming of the border between them, as well as because of Hamas' ties with terror groups in the Sinai Peninsula.
Aside from their economic benefit, the tunnels also became a leading operational tool for Hamas. Hamas used tunnels for its operations throughout its rule, including in the abduction of Gilad Shalit in 2006. In recent years, Hamas has invested heavily in upgrading its tunnel operations and has constructed an expansive tunnel network covering most urban areas of Gaza. The tunnels are used for military purposes including weapons storage, concealed maneuvering, covert rocket launch sites and even for offensive attacks. This terror infrastructure is embedded in civilian areas, and uses civilian buildings as entry points, as well as cover for the tunnels themselves.
The military wing is an integral part of Hamas and not a separate entity. High-level military operatives are part of the Hamas leadership and have a prominent role in decision making. The military wing has been headed by Ahmed Jabari, Muhammad Deif and Yahiya Sinwar. Sinwar, a convicted murderer with a long history of involvement in the military wing, was appointed in February 2016 as the Hamas Chief in the Gaza Strip, replacing Ismail Haniyeh. Sinwar’s seamless transition from military to political leadership demonstrates that there is no real separation between these two wings of the movement.