Hamas

Hamas is a Palestinian militant organization and political party founded in 1987 during the First Intifada (uprising). It emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood and seeks to establish an Islamic state in historic Palestine. Hamas gained political prominence in the early 2000s, winning parliamentary elections in 2006. It governs the Gaza Strip, where it has been involved in armed conflict with Israel, leading to significant violence and humanitarian crises. Internationally, it is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S., and the EU, while some countries view it as a legitimate resistance movement. Its complex role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to generate debate.