Hamas – an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, or the Islamic resistance movemen
was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of Gaza
The State Department designated Hamas a terrorist group in 1997
Several other nations also consider it a terrorist organization.
In 2006, Hamas won parliamentary elections, and in 2007 the group violently seized control of Gaza
Palestinian Authority, which was controlled by the rival Fatah movement that still governs the West Bank.
The group calls for establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state that would replace the current state of Israel
Hamas receives financial, material and logistical support from Iran, though so far, international leaders
including in Israel, have said there is no evidence that Iran was directly involved in Hamas’ attack.
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