Hamas has an armed wing referred to as the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, which has despatched gunmen and suicide bombers into Israel. Hamas characterises its armed actions as resistance in opposition to Israeli occupation.
Its 1988 founding constitution referred to as for the destruction of Israel, though Hamas leaders have at instances supplied a long-term truce, or Hudna in Arabic, with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel within the 1967 struggle. Israel regards this as a ruse.
Hamas is designated as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the USA, European Union, Canada, Egypt and Japan.
It’s a part of a regional alliance comprising Iran, Syria and the Shi’ite group Hezbollah in Lebanon, which all broadly oppose US coverage within the Center East and Israel.
Whereas its energy base is in Gaza, Hamas additionally has supporters throughout the Palestinian territories, and it has leaders unfold throughout the Center East in international locations together with Qatar.