Hamas

In 1979, Israel recognized the Islamist group Mujama al-Islamiya led by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, allowing them to build mosques, schools, and other facilities in Gaza. Despite concerns about their intentions, Israeli officials maintained peaceful relations with the group.

In 1984, Israeli troops raided mosques in Gaza after receiving intelligence that Sheikh Ahmed Yassin's followers were collecting arms. Yassin was arrested but released later, claiming the weapons were intended for use against secular Palestinians, not Israel.

Hamas was formally established in December 1987 by Sheik Ahmad Yassin after the outbreak of a Palestinian uprising known as the first Intifada. The group's name stands for 'Islamic Resistance Movement' in English.

Hamas published its charter in August 1988, declaring its desire to establish an Islamic state throughout Palestine. The charter rejects a two-state solution, advocates armed resistance, and contains antisemitic and irredentist elements.

Hamas was outlawed on September 28, 1989, following the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers by the group. This led to a mass detention of Hamas leaders and activists, severely impacting the organization's operations.

The military branch of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, was established in 1991. They operated independently from Hamas and carried out attacks against civilians and the Israeli military.

In December 1992, Israel deported 415 leading figures of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to Lebanon, sparking international condemnation. The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding their return.

On September 9, 1993, 181 deportees were returned to the Gaza Strip, but many were immediately detained by Israeli authorities. The remaining deportees returned to the Occupied Territories on December 4, 1993.

The Cave of the Patriarchs massacre, carried out by Baruch Goldstein in February 1994, triggered Hamas to begin suicide attacks targeting civilians. The massacre intensified the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

In late December 1995, Hamas promised the Palestinian Authority to stop military operations, but this promise was broken after the assassination of Ayyash.

Ayyash, the leader of the al-Qassam Brigades, was assassinated by Shin Bet using a booby-trapped cellphone in January 1996.

In September 1997, Israeli agents in Jordan failed to kill Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal. This incident led to a deal between Jordan and Israel to swap Mossad agents for Mashaal.

In mid-September 1999, Hamas leaders Khaled Mashaal and Ibrahim Ghosheh were arrested in Jordan on charges of being members of an illegal organization and other military-related offenses.

Hamas carries out a series of deadly suicide bombings in Israel, targeting civilians and causing significant casualties. This escalates the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

Hamas carried out a suicide bombing at a Netanya hotel, killing 30 people and wounding 140. This attack, known as the Passover massacre, targeted Israeli civilians.

On June 12, 2003, a suicide bomber disguised as an ultra-orthodox Jew detonates himself on a Jerusalem bus, killing 16 Israelis. Hamas claims responsibility for this deadly attack.

On August 20, 2003, a suicide bomber detonates himself on a bus in Israel, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 Israelis. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad claim responsibility for this tragic incident.

Senior Hamas official Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi proposed a 10-year truce with Israel in exchange for a complete withdrawal to the 1967 borders.

In January 2004, senior Hamas official Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi offered a 10-year truce to Israel in return for the establishment of a Palestinian state and complete withdrawal from territories captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.

On March 14, 2004, Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for a double attack at the Israeli port of Ashdod, resulting in the death of 10 Israelis.

Hamas leader Yassin was killed in a targeted Israeli air strike on March 22, 2004.

Following the death of Yassin, Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi was named as his successor on March 23, 2004.

Rantisi, the successor of Yassin, was killed by an Israeli air strike on his car on April 17, 2004.

Hamas official Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi was killed by a similar Israeli air strike on April 18, 2004.

On August 31, 2004, Hamas claimed responsibility for deadly explosions on two buses in Beer Sheva, Israel, resulting in the death of at least 14 people and injuring more than 80.

Izz El-Deen Sheikh Khalil, a Hamas member, was killed by a car bomb in Damascus. Hamas threatened retaliation against Israelis abroad.

Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack at a checkpoint on the Gaza Strip-Egypt border on December 12, 2004, resulting in the death of five Israelis.

On January 14, 2005, a bomb explosion at the Karni crossing on the Israel-Gaza border killed six Israelis, with Hamas claiming responsibility for the attack.

Hamas won a significant number of seats in the legislative election, securing 74 out of 132 seats.

Hamas achieved a landslide victory in the Palestinian legislative elections on January 26, 2006, winning 76 seats in the 132-seat Palestinian Legislative Council.

Hamas selected Ismail Haniya as the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority on February 19.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and his cabinet resigned, allowing Hamas to form a new government. Hamas unveiled its full cabinet list on March 20, with loyal members in key ministries.

After unsuccessful attempts to form a coalition government, Hamas assumed the administration of Gaza on its own on 27 March 2006.

On March 29, 2006, Ismail Haniya and his cabinet were sworn in as the new Palestinian Prime Minister, despite the US and Canada refusing to have contact with the Hamas-led government.

Hamas stated that they will never recognize Israel, but would accept a peace agreement including recognition of Israel if endorsed by a popular Palestinian referendum.

Hamas formally ended its 16-month ceasefire on June 10 and claimed responsibility for Qassam rocket attacks on Israel.

Israeli operatives captured Osama and Mustafa Muamar in the Gaza Strip, accusing them of being Hamas members.

Hamas militants attacked an Israeli military post on June 25, 2006, killing two soldiers and kidnapping a third, Gilad Shalit.

Israel initiated Operation Summer Rains on June 28 to recover the captured Israeli soldier, involving heavy bombardment in Gaza.

Israel captured 64 Hamas officials, including Palestinian Authority cabinet ministers and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Israeli forces detained Aziz Dweik, the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council and a member of Hamas, in the West Bank.

Hamas launched rockets from Gaza, signaling the end of the truce with Israel. The rocket attack came on Israel's Independence Day.

In early June 2007, after battles with Fatah, Hamas took control of Gaza, leading to the dissolution of the government by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Former US President Jimmy Carter met with exiled Hamas leader Khalid Meshaal in Damascus, Syria, on April 18-19, 2008.

Hamas and Israel agreed to a six-month cease-fire, which was later declared finished amidst mutual accusations of breaching the agreed conditions.

On December 19, 2008, Hamas officially declared an end to the cease-fire with Israel. The attacks between the two sides had been ongoing to some extent, with tensions escalating particularly in November.

Starting from December 24, 2008, there was a notable increase in rocket attacks from Hamas and retaliatory air strikes from Israel. This marked a period of heightened conflict between the two parties.

On 18 January 2009, after a major military operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel declared a unilateral cease-fire, ending the conflict with Hamas.

Andrew Higgins wrote in the Wall Street Journal that Israel had a role in the creation of Hamas, quoting Avner Cohen who stated that Hamas was encouraged by Israel as a counterweight to the Palestine Liberation Organization.

In August 2009, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with the Obama administration, citing a favorable shift in policies compared to the previous US administration. He emphasized the importance of tangible policy changes on the ground to cooperate with international parties for Palestinian liberation.

In June 20, 2010, senior Hamas official Mahmoud a-Zahar urged Palestinian residents of the West Bank to launch rockets into Israel, escalating tensions in the region.

On August 2, 2010, a rocket attack on Eilat and Aqaba led to tensions and accusations towards Hamas and Iran. Egypt condemned the attack, viewing it as a breach of boundaries and part of Iran's strategy to use Hamas as a proxy for escalating violence in the region.

Ismail Haniyeh reiterated acceptance of a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, subject to endorsement by a referendum among all Palestinians.

In April 2011, Hamas and Fatah agreed to form an interim government and hold elections, with a reaffirmation of this pledge in February 2012.

Hamas and Fatah agreed to form a national unity government without specifying how to confront or deal with Israel.

Egypt stated that Hamas directly provided logistical support to the Muslim Brotherhood militants who carried out the December 2013 Mansoura bombing.

Israeli Prime Minister accused Hamas of involvement in the kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers, leading to severe repercussions. This incident escalated tensions between Israel and Hamas.

Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, was sanctioned by the United States in 2015 for his role in the activities of the organization.

Hamas began security co-ordination with Egypt to crack down on Islamic terrorist organizations in Sinai in exchange for economic aid.

Khaled Mashal presented a new charter stating acceptance of a Palestinian state on the basis of June 4, 1967, without recognizing Israel's statehood and aiming to liberate all of Palestine.

On May 6, 2017, Hamas' Shura Council chose Ismail Haniya to become the new leader, replacing Khaled Mashal. This decision marked a significant leadership change within Hamas.

Hamas dissolved the Supreme Administrative Committee in response to Egypt's efforts as part of the Fatah-Hamas reconciliation process.

In May 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan tweeted that Hamas is a resistance movement defending the Palestinian homeland against occupation.

In July 2023, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Turkish President Erdoğan to reconcile Fatah with Hamas.

Hamas claimed responsibility for a barrage of missile attacks originating from the Gaza Strip, targeting Israel.

Tal Schneider claimed in an article that Netanyahu's policy aimed to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state by supporting Hamas over Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority, causing long-lasting wounds.

Senior Hamas leaders had long planned the attack, intentionally projecting a 'rational' image to the world to hide their intentions. The scale of the deadly attack surprised even Hamas leaders themselves.

During the war and Israel's bombardment of Gaza, Hamas's popularity among Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank increased, while Palestinian support for peaceful coexistence with Israel declined significantly. Surveys conducted in November and December 2023 showed strong support for Hamas's actions.

On October 7th, 2023, Hamas, the ruling government of Gaza, carried out an attack in Israel resulting in the death of around 1200 people, mostly civilians. They also kidnapped hundreds, including women and children, taking them back to Gaza as hostages. This led to Israel bombarding and invading Gaza, causing over 11,000 deaths and displacements.

The New York Times reported that Qatari officials provided significant financial aid to Hamas over a decade, with Israeli journalist Dan Margalit mentioning Netanyahu's tolerance and even encouragement of these payments.

A survey found that 57% of respondents in the Gaza Strip and 82% in the West Bank believed Hamas was correct in launching the 7 October attack. Only 10% believed Hamas committed war crimes during the conflict.

Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, publicly contradicted Netanyahu's denial by stating that Israel financed the creation of Hamas to weaken the Palestinian Authority, advocating for a two-state solution.