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Hamas is a Palestinian Muslim organization with political and militant branches. It aims to eliminate Israel and has been classified as a terrorist group. Hamas runs social programs in the Occupied Territories, but its militant wing has been responsible for many deaths. Support for Hamas among Palestinians is divided.
Hamas is a radical Palestinian Muslim organization with political and militant branches. It is probably most famous for its militant activities, which include acts of terrorism such as suicide bombings, but Hamas’ role in the Palestinian Authority and the Occupied Territories is actually much more complex. Hamas’ stated goal is the elimination of the state of Israel, leading many individuals and organizations to classify it as an anti-Semitic group.
The word “hamas” means “zeal” in Arabic, and is also an acronym for Ḥarakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya, or “Islamic Resistance Movement”. The organization was founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Muslim organization based in Egypt. From the beginning, the founders of Hamas have been very clear about the goals of the organization and, as of 2008, the organization had at least 1,000 active members, along with a large number of supporters, including Palestinian expatriates around the world.
Within the Occupied Territories, Hamas runs a variety of social programs designed to win over the Palestinian population; the organization funds hospitals, orphanages and schools, for example. Funding for Hamas operations comes mainly from expatriates in oil-rich Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia. The classification of Hamas as a terrorist organization by the United States, Japan, Israel, Canada and the European Union means that it cannot access any international aid funding intended to help the Palestinian people. Hamas is also involved in the political field; in 2006 he successfully defeated the Fatah party in the elections, winning the majority of the government.
While Hamas’s social programs may be commendable, the actions of the militant wing are much more questionable. In the 15 years between 1993 and 2008, Hamas was responsible for the deaths of more than 500 people, many of them innocent civilians killed in suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks. The group has been accused of slowing down the Middle East peace process, with the state of Israel reluctant to negotiate with a terrorist organization that has a stated goal of eliminating Israel. International mediators have attempted to broker an agreement that has been hampered by violations of ceasefire agreements and radical Islamist rhetoric.
Support for Hamas among Palestinians is divided. Some people certainly support the organization’s operations, believing that Hamas is engaged in jihad, or holy war. Others disagree with Hamas’ tactics and would prefer to see the goal of a Palestinian state achieved more peacefully, if at all.
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