Hamas

Hamas, an Islamic fundamentalist organization, was established in December 1987, emerging from the Muslim Brotherhood with the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state. It has since been involved in terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After the formation of the Hamas-led cabinet on March 20, 2006, tensions between Fatah and Hamas militants rose in the Gaza strip, leading to demonstrations, violence, and repeated attempts at a truce.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.