PoliticaHub Reference Sheet
Hamas
Party · Printed May 12, 2026 · politicahub.com/party/hamas-ps
Palestinian Islamist movement and political party that has governed the Gaza Strip since seizing control in 2007. Hamas (an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement) was founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. On October 7, 2023, Hamas led a mass-casualty attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, triggering Israel's sustained military campaign in Gaza. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and others.
Key Facts
| founded year | 1987 |
| ideology | Palestinian nationalism, Islamism, anti-Zionism |
| overview | Hamas is simultaneously an Islamist movement, an armed organization, and a governing apparatus that has ruled Gaza since 2007. Its political strategy has always combined resistance credentials with social-service networks and, when useful, electoral participation. The October 7, 2023 attack transformed Hamas's regional and international position: it reinserted the Palestinian question into global politics but triggered a devastating Israeli war that shattered much of Gaza and killed a large part of Hamas's military and political leadership. The unresolved question is whether Hamas can survive as a governing force, revert to a clandestine insurgent role, or be displaced by some externally backed alternative. |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: When was Hamas founded?
- A: Hamas was founded in 1987, about 39 years ago.
- Q: Who is associated with Hamas?
- A: Politicians connected to Hamas on this site include Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar.
- Q: Where does Hamas operate?
PalestineFounded 1987
Frequently Asked Questions
- When was Hamas founded?
- Hamas was founded in 1987, about 39 years ago.
- Who is associated with Hamas?
- Politicians connected to Hamas on this site include Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar.
- Where does Hamas operate?
- Hamas operates in Palestine.
- What is Hamas?
- Palestinian Islamist movement and political party that has governed the Gaza Strip since seizing control in 2007. Hamas (an acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement) was founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. On October 7, 2023, Hamas led a mass-casualty attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages, triggering Israel's sustained military campaign in Gaza. Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and others.
Overview
Hamas is simultaneously an Islamist movement, an armed organization, and a governing apparatus that has ruled Gaza since 2007. Its political strategy has always combined resistance credentials with social-service networks and, when useful, electoral participation. The October 7, 2023 attack transformed Hamas's regional and international position: it reinserted the Palestinian question into global politics but triggered a devastating Israeli war that shattered much of Gaza and killed a large part of Hamas's military and political leadership. The unresolved question is whether Hamas can survive as a governing force, revert to a clandestine insurgent role, or be displaced by some externally backed alternative.
