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{{cleanup-date|February 2006}}
{{wikinews|Hamas wins Palestinian election}}
[[Image:HamasLogo.jpg|right|thumb|The Hamas emblem shows two crossed swords, the [[Dome of the Rock]] and a map of the land they claim as [[Palestine]] (present-day [[Israel]], the [[West Bank]] and the [[Gaza Strip]]).]]


'''Hamas''' is a [[Palestinian]] [[Islamist]] organization created in [[1987]]. In [[2006]], Hamas became the governing party of the [[Palestinian Authority]], having won a majority of seats in [[Palestinian legislative election, 2006|Palestinian legislative elections]]. Hamas has created an extensive network of [[social welfare]] programs throughout the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza]], explaining part of its popularity. Throughout the rest of the world, Hamas is widely known for carrying out [[suicide attack|suicide bombings]] and other attacks against [[Israel]]is to further its goal of creating an Islamic Republic of Palestine in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The group is listed as a [[terrorism|terrorist]] organization by [[Australia]], [[Canada]], the [[European Union]], [[Israel]], and the [[United States]], and is banned in [[Jordan]] <ref> {{note label|US|1|a}} [http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/45394.htm US State Dept. list of terrorist groups] </ref>.

==Name==
''Hamas'' ({{lang-ar|حماس}}, [[acronym]] of '''Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya''', Arabic: حركة المقاومة الاسلامية, literally "Islamic Resistance Movement") is an abbreviation of '''Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]] . The acronym corresponds to an Arabic word, meaning "enthusiasm, fire, ardor, fervor, zeal, fanaticism" (''The [[Hans Wehr]] [[Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic]]'').

The military wing of Hamas, formed in [[1992]], is known as the [[Ezzedeen-al-qassam|Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades]] to commemorate Sheikh [[Izz ad-Din al-Qassam]], the father of modern Arab resistance, killed by the British in 1935. Armed Hamas cells also sometimes refer to themselves as "Students of Ayyash," "Students of the Engineer," or "Yahya Ayyash Units," (see Kushner, 2002, p. 160) to commemorate [[Yahya Ayyash]], an early Hamas bomb-maker assassinated in [[1996]] <ref> {{Citenews | title=Who are Hamas? | org=BBC News | date=January 26, 2006 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1654510.stm}} </ref> .

==Beliefs==
Founded in 1987, Hamas was the [[Gaza Strip]] branch of the Pan-Arab ([[Sunni Islam|Sunni]]) [[Islamist]] [[Muslim Brotherhood]] movement, which had been founded in Egypt. Hamas is ideologically opposed to the [[zionism|existence of Israel]] and has denounced the 1993 [[Oslo Accords]], the foundation of the failed peace process, as a "betrayal of God's will". However, in 2004, Hamas offered a 10 years truce, or ''[[hudna]]'', in exchange for several conditions including a complete withdrawal from the [[Israeli-occupied territories|occupied territories]] (''[[Hamas#2004 - A 10-year Truce|See below]]'').

Hamas regards the territory of the present-day [[Israel|State of Israel]] — as well as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — as an inalienable Islamic [[waqf]] or religious bequest, which can never be surrendered to non-[[Muslim]]s. It asserts that struggle (''[[jihad]]'') to wrest control of the land from Israel is the religious duty of every Muslim (''fard `ain''). This position is more radical than that now held by the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO), which in [[1988]] recognized Israel's sovereignty. Hamas does not recognize Israel as a sovereign state and refers to it as the "Zionist entity", a common hostile term in Arab political rhetoric, and calls for Israel's destruction in its charter. Hamas dropped its call for the destruction of Israel from its electoral manifesto [http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1684472,00.html]. However several Hamas candidates insist that the charter is still in force and often called for Israel to be "wiped off the map" in campaign speeches[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060112/wl_nm/mideast_hamas_dc]. On January 25th, 2006, after winning the Palestinian elections, Hamas leader [[Mahmoud Al-Zahhar]] gave an interview to [[Al-Manar TV]] denouncing foreign demands that Hamas recognize Israel's right to exist. [http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1014]

Hamas's charter calls for the eventual destruction of the state of Israel and the creation of an Islamic Republic in it's place. [http://www.mideastweb.org/hamas.htm]. Hamas sees this view as an Islamic religious duty and prophesy which comes directly from the Q'uran and as such can not be compromised, how ever the group has not set a specific date for such destruction of Israel, Hamas founder, Sheikh Yassin, has mentioned the year 2027 as the possible date for destruction of Israel[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=317595&contrassID=2&subContrassID=5&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y]. The group has not issued a clear statement about how it would deal with the current population of Israel, should it succeed in overthrowing Israeli and secular Palestinian government. [[Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi]], one of its co-founders, stated that the movement's goal is "to remove Israel from the map." <ref> {{Citenews | title=New-look Hamas spends £100k on an image makeover | org=The Guardian | date=January 20, 2006 | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1690610,00.html}} </ref> However, on February 13, 2005, Hamas leader [[Khaled Mashal]] declared that Hamas would stop [[armed struggle]] against Israel if it recognized the 1967 borders and withdrew itself from all Palestinian occupied territories (including the West Bank and [[East Jerusalem]] (''[[Hamas#January 2006 - Winning the Legislative Election|See below]]'').

According to the [[neo-conservative]] [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy|Washington Institute]], Hamas views the [[Arab-Israeli conflict]] as "a religious struggle between [[Islam]] and [[Judaism]] that can only be resolved by the destruction of the State of Israel." [http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC04.php?CID=116] Hamas uses both political activities and violence to pursue its goal of establishing an Islamic [[Palestinian state]] in place of Israel and the secular [[Palestinian Authority]]. Israeli military operations during the [[Al Aqsa Intifada]] in 2002 put pressure on Hamas in the West Bank following several bombings in Israel for which Hamas claimed responsibility. Hamas has also engaged in peaceful political activities, including running candidates in West Bank [[Chamber of Commerce]] elections.

The 1988 [[wikisource:Hamas Covenant|Hamas Covenant]] states that the organization's goal is to "raise the banner of [[Allah|God]] over every inch of Palestine," i.e. to eliminate the State of Israel (and any secular Palestinian state which may be established), and to replace it with an [[Islamic Republic]].
<!-- The goal to conquer Israel is explicitly stated as one of the starting points in its charter: "Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it as it had eliminated its predecessors." -->

The thirty-six articles of the Covenant detail the movement's [[Islamist]] beliefs regarding the primacy of Islam in all aspects of life. The Covenant identifies Hamas as the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] in Palestine and considers its members to be Muslims who "fear God and raise the banner of Jihad in the face of the oppressors." Hamas describes resisting and quelling the enemy as the individual duty of every Muslim and prescribes revolutionary roles for all members of society; including men and women, professionals, scientists and students.

The slogan of Hamas is "[[God]] is its target, [[Muhammad|the Prophet]] is its model, the [[Qur'an]] its [[constitution]]: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of God is the loftiest of its wishes." Hamas states that its objective is to support the oppressed and wronged and "to bring about justice and defeat injustice, in word and deed." Hamas believes that "the land of Palestine is an Islamic [[Waqf]] (trust) consecrated for future Muslim generations until [[Qiyamah|Judgement Day]]," and as such, the land cannot be negotiated away by any political leader. Hamas rejects "so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences" as incapable of realizing justice or restoring rights to the oppressed, believing "there is no solution for the Palestinian question except through [[Jihad]]." During the election campaign the organisation toned down the criticism of Israel in their election manifest and only stated that they are prepared to use "armed resistance to end the occupation".[http://www.stockholmsfria.nu/artikel/6296]

=== The Covenant of Hamas ===
The [[Wikisource:Hamas Covenant|Covenant]] (or Charter) of Hamas was published in 1988. It outlines the organization's position on various issues, including social and economic development and ideological influences, education, as well as its position regarding Israel. Amongst many other things, it reiterates the group's rejection of the coexistence principle of the [[peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]:

<blockquote>''Preface:'' "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." ''(A quote by Imam [[Hassan al-Banna]])''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 6:'' "The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine, for under the wing of Islam followers of all religions can coexist in security and safety where their lives, possessions and rights are concerned..."</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 11:'' "The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up."</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 13:'' "There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through [[Jihad]]. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. The Palestinian people know better than to consent to having their future, rights and fate toyed with."</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 28:'' "The Zionist invasion is a vicious invasion ... It relies greatly in its infiltration and espionage operations on the secret organizations it gave rise to, such as the Freemasons, The Rotary and Lions clubs, and other sabotage groups. All these organizations, whether secret or open, work in the interest of Zionism and according to its instructions ..."</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 31:'' "The Islamic Resistance Movement is a humanistic movement. It takes care of human rights and is guided by Islamic tolerance when dealing with the followers of other religions. It does not antagonize anyone of them except if it is antagonized by it or stands in its way to hamper its moves and waste its efforts. Under the wing of Islam, it is possible for the followers of the three religions - Islam, Christianity and Judaism - to coexist in peace and quiet with each other."</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 32:'' "After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the region they overtook, they will aspire to further expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in ''[[The Protocols of the Elders of Zion]]'', and their present conduct is the best proof of what we are saying." [http://www.welt.de/z/plog/blog.php/the_free_west/the_free_wests_weblog/2006/01/26/a_viable_palestinian_state] </blockquote>

Suicide attacks are an element of what the group sees as its [[asymmetric warfare]] against Israel. Since the group considers all Israel to be a "militarized society" (there is mandatory military service for most Jewish men and women) and Israelis to be participants in an illegal occupation of Palestinian land, Hamas does not distinguish between Israeli civilian and military targets. This failure to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants and the group's willingness to target civilian facilities including buses, supermarkets, and restaurants has led to it being labeled a terrorist organization.

Hamas' position on other social and political issues:

<blockquote>''Article 16 (education):''
It is necessary to follow Islamic orientation in educating the Islamic generations in our region by teaching the religious duties, comprehensive study of the Koran, the study of the Prophet's Sunna (his sayings and doings), and learning about Islamic history and heritage from their authentic sources. This should be done by specialised and learned people, using a curriculum that would healthily form the thoughts and faith of the Moslem student. Side by side with this, a comprehensive study of the enemy, his human and financial capabilities, learning about his points of weakness and strength, and getting to know the forces supporting and helping him, should also be included. Also, it is important to be acquainted with the current events, to follow what is new and to study the analysis and commentaries made of these events. Planning for the present and future, studying every trend appearing, is a must so that the fighting Moslem would live knowing his aim, objective and his way in the midst of what is going on around him.</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 18 (on women):''
Woman in the home of the fighting family, whether she is a mother or a sister, plays the most important role in looking after the family, rearing the children and embuing them with moral values and thoughts derived from Islam. She has to teach them to perform the religious duties in preparation for the role of fighting awaiting them. That is why it is necessary to pay great attention to schools and the curriculum followed in educating Moslem girls, so that they would grow up to be good mothers, aware of their role in the battle for liberation.

She has to be of sufficient knowledge and understanding where the performance of housekeeping matters are concerned, because economy and avoidance of waste of the family budget, is one of the requirements for the ability to continue moving forward in the difficult conditions surrounding us. She should put before her eyes the fact that the money available to her is just like blood which should never flow except through the veins so that both children and grown-ups could continue to live.</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 21 (on civic culture and social responsibility):''

Mutual social responsibility means extending assistance, financial or moral, to all those who are in need and joining in the execution of some of the work. Members of the Islamic Resistance Movement should consider the interests of the masses as their own personal interests. They must spare no effort in achieving and preserving them. They must prevent any foul play with the future of the upcoming generations and anything that could cause loss to society. The masses are part of them and they are part of the masses. Their strength is theirs, and their future is theirs. Members of the Islamic Resistance Movement should share the people's joy and grief, adopt the demands of the public and whatever means by which they could be realised. The day that such a spirit prevails, brotherliness would deepen, cooperation, sympathy and unity will be enhanced and the ranks will be solidified to confront the enemies.</blockquote>

=== Anti-Semitism ===
[[Anti-Semitism]] is a recurring theme in [[Wikisource:Hamas Covenant|Hamas Covenant]] and speeches of its leaders. The Covenant cites the long-discredited anti-Semitic fraud, ''[[The Protocols of the Elders of Zion]]'', describing it as "the embodiment of the Zionist plan to usurp Palestine". Other examples of anti-Semitism in their Covenant include:

<blockquote>''Introduction:''
Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious. It needs all sincere efforts. It is a step that inevitably should be followed by other steps. The Movement is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah's victory is
realised.</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 7:''
... the Islamic Resistance Movement aspires to the realisation of Allah's promise, no matter how long that should take. The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said: "The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharqad tree would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews."</blockquote>

<blockquote>''Article 28:''
... when the Jews conquered the Holy City in 1967, they stood on the threshold of the Aqsa Mosque and proclaimed that "Mohammed is dead, and his descendants are all women."
Israel, Judaism and Jews challenge Islam and the Moslem people. "May the cowards never sleep."</blockquote>

Hamas dismisses the [[Freemasons]], [[Lions Clubs International|Lions Club]], and the [[Rotary International|Rotarians]] as organizations promoting "the interest of [[Zionism]]." It accuses those organizations, and the "Zionist invasion" in general, of being "behind the [[drug trade]] and [[alcoholism]] in all its kinds."

[[Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi]], co-founder of Hamas, reiterated beliefs of [[Holocaust denial]] as recently as one year before his 2004 death, contending that [[the Holocaust]] did not occur in the manner described by Western historians. [http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=18086]

In 1998, Esther Webman of the Project for the Study of Anti-Semitism at the [[Tel-Aviv University]]
wrote: "...the anti-Semitic rhetoric in Hamas leaflets is frequent and intense. Nevertheless, anti-Semitism is not the main tenet of Hamas ideology. Generally no differentiation was made in the leaflets between Jew and Zionist, in as much as Judaism was perceived as embracing Zionism, although in other Hamas publications and in interviews with its leaders attempts at this differentiation have been made."[http://www.ict.org.il/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=51#motifs]

According to Meir Litvak's 2003 study, "In Hamas' literature, anti-Semitism became almost dominant. Earlier anti-Semitic motifs are developed time and again in their magazine Falastin al-Muslama. Almost every issue contains anti-Jewish articles using elements from the Islamic tradition. Judaism is presented as a religion based on lies, which from its origin called for aggression against others and their exploitation."[http://www.jcpa.org/phas/phas-5.htm]

According to Hamas choice for Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh:

<blockquote>''We do not have any feelings of animosity toward Jews. We do not wish to throw them into the sea. All we seek is to be given our land back, not to harm anybody.''[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25737830.htm]</blockquote>

==Activities==
===Attacks against Israel===
[[Image:Buss Suicide Bombing West Jerusalem3.jpg|thumb|350px|The wreckage of a commuter bus in West Jerusalem after a suicide bombing by Hamas on Tuesday, [[June 18]], [[2002]]. The blast killed 19 people.]]

Hamas' first use of suicide bombing occurred on [[April 16]], [[1993]] when a suicide bomber driving an explosive-laden van detonated between two buses parked at a restaurant [http://www.ict.org.il/inter_ter/orgattack.cfm?orgid=13]. Hamas described it as a response to a mass-killing of 29 praying Palestinians by an American-born Jewish settler in a Hebron Mosque 40 days earlier. It was Hamas' 19th known attack since 1989 (the others being shootings, kidnappings and knife attacks)[http://www.ict.org.il/inter_ter/orgattack.cfm?orgid=13].

During the [[Al-Aqsa Intifada|second Intifada]], Hamas, along with the [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement|Islamic Jihad Movement]], spearheaded the violence through the years of the Palestinian uprising. <ref> {{Citenews | title=Victory leaves Hamas with a dilemma (Opinion) | org=Telegraph | date=January 27, 2006 | url=http://www.opinion.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/01/27/do2702.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2006/01/27/ixopinion.html}} </ref> Since then Hamas has conducted many attacks on Israel, mainly through its military wing - the [[Ezzedeen-al-qassam]] Brigades. These attacks have included large-scale [[suicide bombing]]s against Israeli civilian targets, the most deadly of which was the bombing of a [[Netanya]] hotel on March 27 2002, in which 30 people were killed and 140 were wounded. This attack has also been referred to as the [[Passover massacre]] since it took place on the first night of the Jewish festival of [[Passover]]. Overall, from November 2000 to April 2004, 377 Israeli citizens and soldiers were killed and 2,076 wounded in 425 attacks by Hamas. ([http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=7&docid=30286.EN Source: IDF website].) The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains a comprehensive list of Hamas attacks.[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terror+Groups/Hamas+terror+attacks+22-Mar-2004.htm]

Hamas has used [[female suicide bomber]]s, including a mother of six and a mother of two children under the age of 10. Hamas claims that all suicide bombers volunteer for what they term "[[martyr]]dom operations" however an anonymous Israeli military source claims that one of the women was forced to commit these acts under threat of what is termed an "[[honor killing]]". [http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1131866,00.html][http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=19474]

Hamas has also attacked Israeli military and security forces targets (mostly inside the West Bank and Gaza Strip and occasionally inside Israel), suspected Palestinian collaborators, and [[Fatah]] rivals.

Hamas shelled the [[Gush Katif]] [[Israeli settlement]]s in Gaza with homemade [[mortar (weapon)|mortar]]s. About 5500 mortar shells have landed in [[Gush Katif]], killing 3 people before the settlements were dismantled.

Since 2002, Hamas has used homemade [[Qassam rocket]]s to hit Israeli towns in the [[Negev]], such as [[Sderot]]. The introduction of the ''Qassam-2 rocket'' has allowed Hamas to reach large Israeli cities such as [[Ashkelon]], bringing great concern to the Israeli populace and many attempts by the Israeli military to stop the proliferation and use of the rockets.

===Support for the Palestinian population===
The organization is particularly popular among Palestinians in the [[Gaza Strip]], though it also has a following in the [[West Bank]], and to a lesser extent in other [[Middle East]]ern countries. Since its formation in 1987, Hamas has conducted numerous social, political, and military actions. Its popularity stems in part from its [[social welfare|welfare]] and social services to Palestinians in the occupied territories, including school and hospital construction. The group devotes much of its estimated $70-million annual budget to an extensive social services network, running many relief and [[education]] programs, and funds schools, orphanages, mosques, healthcare clinics, soup kitchens, and sports leagues. According to an article by Israeli scholar Reuven Paz, published by the conservative US think-tank [[Council on Foreign Relations]], approximately 90 percent of the organization's work is in social, welfare, cultural, and educational activities. <ref> {{note label|CFR|16|a}} [http://cfrterrorism.org/groups/hamas.html US [[Council of Foreign Relations]] think-tank on Hamas] </ref> These programs are viewed variously as part of a sincere social development agenda, an integrated [[para-state]] policy, as [[propaganda]] and [[recruitment]] exercises, or both. In any case, Hamas has significantly increased literacy in areas where it is active. Hamas also funds a number of other charitable activities, primarily in the Gaza Strip. These include religious institutions, medical facilities, and social needs of the area's residents. The work of Hamas in these fields supplements that provided by the [[United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East|United Nations Relief Works Agency]] (UNRWA). The [[charitable trust]] [[Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development]] was accused in December 2001 of funding Hamas.

Hamas is also well regarded by Palestinians for its efficiency and perceived lack of corruption compared to Fatah. <ref> {{Citenews | title=Why Rising Popularity Poses a Dilemma for Hamas | org=Time | date=January 23, 2006 | url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1151969,00.html?cnn=yes}} </ref> <ref> {{Citenews | title=“The Palestinian Authority held a democratic election and Israel and the rest of the world must accept that Hamas was the victor” | org=Jewish Virtual Library | date=No date | url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths/mf24.html#a46}} </ref>

=== Funding ===
Hamas is well funded and known to support families of [[suicide bombing|suicide bombers]] after their deaths. <ref> {{Citenews | title=Hamas from cradle to grave | org=The Middle East Quaterly | date=Winter 2004 | url=http://www.meforum.org/article/582}} </ref> According to the [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Dept]], it is funded by [[Iran]] (led by a [[shiite]] Islamic regime), Palestinian expatriates, and private benefactors in [[Saudi Arabia]] and other Arab states. {{ref label|US|2|a}} However, various sources, among them ''[[United Press International]]'', ''[[Le Canard Enchaîné]]'' and ''[[L'Humanité]]'' have highlighted that Hamas' early growth - before its official founding and the creation of the military branch - had been supported by the [[Mossad]] as a "counterbalance to the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO)". <ref>{{note label|Humanite|13|a}}{{Citenews | title=Hamas is a creation of Mossad | org=L'Humanite | date=transl. March 2004 | url=http://globalresearch.ca/articles/ZER403A.html}}</ref> <ref> {{note label|UPI|14|a}}{{Citenews | title=Hamas history tied to Israel | org=UPI | date=June 18, 2002 | url=http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=18062002-051845-8272r}} </ref> Furthermore, the French investigative newspaper ''[[Le Canard Enchaîné]]'' revealed that the [[Shin Beth]] had also supported Hamas as a counterweight to the PLO and the [[Fatah]], in an attempt to give "a religious slant to the conflict, in order to make believe Occident that the conflict was between Jews and Muslims" <ref> {{note label|Canard|15|a}}{{note label|Canard|15|b}} {{Citenews | title=Les très secrètes 'relations' Israël-Hamas (The very secret Israel-Hamas 'relations') | org=Le Canard Enchaîné | date=February 1, 2006 (issue n°4449) | url=http://www.canardenchaine.com/une4449.html}} </ref>.

===Other===
Hamas has an unknown number of hard-line members and tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers {{fact}}
It is believed to operate dozens of websites. A current listing can be found at [[Internet Haganah]] (External link below). [http://www.palestine-info.info/ The main website of Hamas] provides translations of official communiques and [[propaganda]] in [[Persian language]] [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[English language|English]], and [[Arabic language|Arabic]].

In 2005, Hamas announced its intention to launch an experimental TV channel, "Al-Aqsa". The station was launched on January 7, 2006, less than three weeks before the [[Palestinian legislative election, 2006|Palestinian legislative elections]]. [http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/eng_n/al_aqsa_e.htm] It included a TV show for children.

==History==
<!--there was no HAMAS party in any way before 1987-->
=== Brief timeline ===
*'''1984'''. Arrest of [[Sheikh Ahmed Yassin]], condemned to 12 years of prison after the discovery of an arms cache. Yassin is freed the next year.

*'''1987. Creation of Hamas''' by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

*'''1987-1993. [[First Intifada]]'''

*'''1988 [[wikisource:Hamas Covenant|Hamas Covenant]]'''.

*'''1989. Israel outlaws Hamas''' and imprisons Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

*'''1991. [[Gulf War]].'''

*'''1992. Creation of the military branch [[Ezzedeen-al-qassam]]'''.

*'''1993. [[Oslo Accords]]'''

*'''[[April 1993]]. First Hamas suicide bombing''' at Mehola Junction[http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/memoranda/m48notes.html].

*'''[[Palestinian legislative and presidential election, 1996]]'''. Hamas boycotts them, allowing the [[Fatah]], led by Yasser Arafat, a large victory.

*'''[[January 1996]]. [[Targeted killing|Assassination]] of [[Yahya Ayyash]],''' Hamas bombmaker.

*'''[[February]]-[[March]] [[1996]]. 47 Israelis killed''' in three different bombings.

*'''[[October 1997]]'''. Freed by Prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] for "humanitarian reasons", Sheikh Yassin is acclaimed as hero at his return to Gaza.

*'''[[September 2000]]. [[Al-Aqsa Intifada]]''' - Hundreds of civilians killed on both sides (405 Palestinians (source: [[B'Tselem]]) and 256 Israeli citizens).

*'''[[July 2002]]'''. Assassination of [[Salah Shahade]], leader of the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades.

*'''[[January 6]], [[2004]]. 10 year truce (''[[hudna]]'')''' offered by senior Hamas official Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi in exchange of Israel's complete withdrawal to the 1967 borders.

*'''[[March 22]] [[2004]], assassination of Sheikh Yassin'''. Yassin, then an old man restricted to a wheel-chair due to his life-long paralysis was assassinated in an Israeli missile strike on March 22, 2004. Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi replaced him as the leader of Hamas. On [[March 28]], Rantissi stated in a speech given at the Islamic University of [[Gaza City]] that "America declared war against God. [[Ariel Sharon|Sharon]] declared war against God, and God declared war against America, Bush and Sharon."

*'''[[April 17]], [[2004]], assassination of [[Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi]]'''. Rantissi was also assassinated in an airstrike by the [[Israel Defense Forces]], five hours after a fatal suicide bombing by Hamas. [[Khaled Mashaal]], the leader of Hamas in Syria, said Hamas should not disclose the name of its next leader in Gaza. [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/18/international/middleeast/18MIDE.html]

*On [[April 18]] [[2004]], Hamas secretly selected a new leader in the Gaza Strip, fearing he would be killed if his identity were made public. [http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Israel-Palestinians.html?hp (NYT)]. However, Israel believes that the new leader is [[Mahmoud al-Zahar]]; the second-in-command, [[Ismail Haniya]]; and third-in-command, [[Sa'id A-Siyam]]. [http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=61435]

*[[September 2004]]. Israeli army chief [[Moshe Yaalon]] said that Israel would "deal with ... those who support terrorism," including those in "terror command posts in Damascus."

*'''[[September 26]], [[2004]]. Assassination of [[Izz El-Deen Sheikh Khalil]].''' Sheikh Khalil was assassinated by a car bomb in Damascus, Syria. Khalil was described variously as "mid-level," "senior," a "distinguished member," and "believed to be in charge of the group's military wing outside the Palestinian territories." [http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=927356&tw=wn_wire_story]Although the Israeli government offered no official confirmation, anonymous Israeli officials acknowledged responsibility for the attack. In a statement released in Gaza, Hamas threatened to target Israelis abroad in retaliation. [http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=6334113][http://www.boston.com/dailynews/270/world/Car_bomb_kills_Hamas_operative:.shtml].

*'''[[October 2004]]'''. Assassination of [[Adnan al-Ghoul]], assistant of [[Mohammed Deif]], the leader of the Ezzedeen-al-qassam brigades.

*'''[[November 11]], [[2004]]. Death of [[Yasser Arafat]]''', chairman of the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO) and president of the [[Palestinian National Authority]].

*'''[[Palestinian presidential election, 2005|January 2005 Palestinian presidential election]].''' PLO chairman [[Mahmoud Abbas]] elected to replace Yasser Arafat. Hamas boycotts them.

*'''[[Palestinian municipal election, 2005|Palestinian municipal elections, January-May 2005]]'''. Relative success of Hamas, which took control of [[Beit Lahya]] in northern Gaza, [[Qalqiliya]] in the West Bank and [[Rafah]].

*'''[[March 2005]]. Hamas proclaims ''[[tadiyah]]''''', a period of calm.

*'''[[January 25]], [[2006]].''' Overwhelming victory of the Hamas at the [[Palestinian legislative election, 2006|legislative election]], which takes 74 seats of the 132 seats.

*As of 2004, Israeli military and intelligence sources believed that the Hamas infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip has been significantly weakened by Israeli military operations. Israeli sources have noted that no prominent attacks have been claimed by West Bank-based Hamas members (whereas bombings by the Fatah-linked [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] continued), even though the Hamas leadership had reputedly ordered an escalation of suicide attacks after the assassinations of sheikh Yassin and Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi. The West Bank has been under increased Israeli military control since [[Operation Defensive Shield]] was launched in April 2002, which severely limited the mobility and organization of the remaining Hamas membership. However, the 2006 legislative elections proved Hamas was a political power, at least in the Gaza strip.

=== Before 1987 - Palestinian Islamic activities prior to the creation of Hamas ===
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin returned to Gaza from [[Cairo]] in the 1970s, where he set up Islamic charities, founding Hamas in 1987 as an offshoot of [[Egypt]]'s [[Muslim Brotherhood]]. According to the Israeli weekly ''[[Koteret Rashit]]'' (October 1987), "The Islamic associations as well as the [Islamic university - founded in 1978 in Gaza] had been supported and encouraged by the Israeli military authority" in charge of the (civilian) administration of the West Bank and Gaza. "They [the Islamic associations and the university] were authorized to receive money payments from abroad." By the end of 1992, they were 600 hundreds mosques in Gaza. Hamas attracted members through preaching and charitable work before spreading its influence into [[trade union]]s, universities, bazaars, professional organizations and local government political races beginning in December 2004 <ref> [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.hamas22jan22,1,6755050.story?coll=bal-home-headlines&ctrack=1&cset=true BaltimoreSun] </ref>. “Thanks to Israel’s intelligence agency [[Mossad]] (Israel’s Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks), the Islamists were allowed to reinforce their presence in the occupied territories. Meanwhile, the members of Fatah (Movement for the National Liberation of Palestine) and the Palestinian Left were subjected to the most brutal form of repression”, according to ''[[L’Humanite]]'' {{ref label|Humanite|13|a}}. Indeed Israel supported and encouraged Hamas' early growth in an effort to undermine the secular [[Fatah]] movement of [[Yasser Arafat]]. According to [[UPI]], [[Israel]] supported Hamas starting in the late 1970s as a "counterbalance to the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]]". {{ref label|UPI|14|a}} At that time, Hamas's focus was on "religious and social work". The grassroots movement concentrated on social issues such as exposing corruption, administration of ''[[waqf]]'' (trusts) and organizing community projects.

=== 1987 - The establishment of Hamas ===
The acronym "Hamas" first appeared in 1987 in a leaflet accusing the Israeli [[Mossad|intelligence service]]s of undermining the moral fiber of Palestinian youth as part of their recruitment of what they termed [[collaborator]]s. The use of violence by Hamas appeared almost contemporaneously with the [[First Intifada]], beginning with the beating of Palestinians working with the Israeli government, progressing to attacks against Israeli military targets and moving on to violence aimed at civilians. As its methods have changed over the last twenty years, so has its rhetoric, now effectively claiming that Israeli civilians are "military targets" by virtue of living in a state with a [[military draft]]. The first Hamas suicide bombing was committed during the second Intifada, in April 1994 at Hadara.

=== 1991 - The Persian Gulf war ===
Between February and April 1998, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin raised several millions dollars from the Gulf states, which had withdrawn their funding from Fatah following its official support of Saddam Hussein during the first [[Gulf War]]. In prison since 1989, Yassin was released under “humanitarian reasons” by Prime minister [[Netanyahu]] following a failed assassination attempt on [[Khaled Mashal]], and expelled to [[Jordan]], from where he was allowed to return to Gaza in October 1997. The military branch [[Ezzedeen-al-qassam]] were created a year before the [[Oslo Accords]], in an attempt to block those negotiations.

=== 2004 - A 10-year truce ===
On [[January 26]] [[2004]], senior Hamas official [[Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi]] offered a 10-year truce, or ''[[hudna]]'', in return for a complete withdrawal by Israel from the territories captured in the [[Six Day War]], and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Hamas leader [[Sheikh Ahmed Yassin]] stated that the group could accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Rantissi confirmed that Hamas had come to the conclusion that it was "difficult to liberate all our land at this stage, so we accept a phased liberation." He said the truce could last 10 years, though "not more than 10 years." <ref> [http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2004%20News%20archives/Jan/27n/Hamas%20proposal%20of%2010year%20truce%20scorned.htm AlJazeerah] </ref>

Observed since an attack on the Israeli southern town of [[Beersheba]] in [[August 2004]], in which 15 people were killed and 125 wounded, the truce was generally observed. Hamas violated once, in [[August 2005]], with an attack on the same bus station, wounding seven, and in several attacks on Israeli motorists - killing six in several attacks[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3211836,00.html][http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1138622559871&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull].

End of January 2004, [[Steve Cohen]], US civil servant mandated by the State Department and [[Colin Powell]], assisted to a meeting with Hamas officials, according to the ''[[Canard Enchaîné]]'' {{ref label|Canard|16|a}}. The mission was not only in informing itself about the objectives of the movement, according to the French newspaper, but also to evalue if Hamas could represent a counter-balance to [[al-Qaeda]]. In exchange, Hamas officials asked for the end of "[[targeted killing]]s" practiced against them by the Israeli military.

While the group boycotted the [[Palestinian presidential election, 2005|2005 Palestinian presidential election]], it did participate in the [[Palestinian municipal election, 2005|2005 municipal elections]] organized by Yassir Arafat in the occupied territories. In those elections it won control of over one third of Palestinian municipal councils, besting [[Fatah]], which has traditionally been "the biggest force in Palestinian politics." <ref> {{Citenews | title=Hamas success in Fatah heartland | org=BBC News | date=May 13, 2005 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4541383.stm}} </ref> With this electoral success behind it, Hamas contested the [[Palestinian legislative election, 2006|2006 elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council]] as the main component of the List of Change and Reform.

=== 2005 - Israel's unilateral disengagement plan ===
In 2004, in a prelude to [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan]] from the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces carried out a number of military attacks on Gaza cities and refugees camps, seeking to draw out and kill Hamas-affiliated gunmen. Awareness of high casualties during such incursions has led the Hamas leadership to instruct its activists to avoid putting themselves needlessly in the line of fire. On [[12 September]] [[2005]] [[Tsahal]] withdrew from the Gaza Strip and declared an official end to Israeli military rule in Gaza, though Israel still retains control of the airspace and of the sea. However the [[Palestinan Authority]] argues that the occupation is on-going, as complete [[sovereignty]] includes control of both airspace and seaways. Critics have called the Gaza strip an "open-air prison".

Hamas claimed that this unilateral withdrawal was a victory for its armed struggle and pledged to liberate all the occupied territories, including the [[West Bank]] and [[East Jerusalem]].{{fact}} Fatah, on the other hand, viewed [[Ariel Sharon]]'s unilateral plan as proof of the Palestinians' failure to obtain international recognition.{{fact}} Both criticized the disengagement plan, citing Sharon's simultaneous encouragement of [[Israeli settlements]] in the West Bank, including [[Ma'ale Adummim]], a large settlement east of [[Jerusalem]] <ref> {{Citenews | title=Israel: Sharon the blessed | org=Le Monde Diplomatique | date=February 2006 | url=http://mondediplo.com/2006/02/03sharon}} </ref>.

In [[April 2005]], an advisor of hawkish [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], principal right-wing opponent of Ariel Sharon, secretly negotiated with a Hamas representant, according to the ''[[Canard Enchaîné]]''. The meeting was about the "possibility of an administrative co-gestion with the Hamas in the occupied territories", which is already the case in some Hamas-controlled cities of the West Bank, according to the French newspaper, which continues saying that: "But, in both sides, participants to such a dialogue keeps their mouth shut (''bouche cousue''). It is impossible to admit that one has met and negotiated with his sworn enemy." {{ref label|Canard|16|b}}

=== January 2006 - Winning the legislative election ===
While Hamas had boycotted the [[Palestinian presidential election, 2005|January 2005 presidential election]], during which [[Mahmoud Abbas]] was elected to replace [[Yasser Arafat]], it did participate to the [[Palestinian municipal election, 2005|municipal elections]] held between January and May 2005, in which it took control of [[Beit Lahia]] in Gaza, [[Qalqiliya]] in the West Bank and [[Rafah]]. The [[Palestinian legislative election, 2006|January 2006 legislative elections]] marqued another victory for Hamas, which gained the majority of seats, defeating the ruling [[Fatah]] party. The "List of Change and Reform", as Hamas presented itself, obtained 42.9% of the vote and 76 of the 132 seats. <ref> [http://www.elections.ps/pdf/result_seat_distribution_EN.pdf] </ref> <ref> [http://www.elections.ps/template.aspx?id=291] </ref> [http://www.elections.ps]; according to Reuters 74 seats [http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-02-04T115145Z_01_L0459754_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml&archived=False]. Palestinian Prime Minister [[Ahmed Qurei]] and his cabinet resigned, leaving Hamas to form a new government. On February 19, Hamas chose [[Ismail Haniya]] as [[Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority|Prime minister of the PA]], and on the same day the government of Israel decided counter-measures against the new Hamas-led Palestinian Authority (suspension of $50 million transfer of tax-receipts). After the victory, Israeli Human Rights organizations have called on Hamas to stop its terror campaign against civilians and to avoid using violence as a tool to achieve a political solution.

[[Vladimir Putin|President Vladimir Putin]] said that Russia would not support any efforts to cut off financial assistance to the Palestinians, stating that Hamas gained power by democratic means. He invited some Hamas leaders to Moscow beginning of March 2006. However, the US [[Bush administration]] and the [[European Union]] have threatened to cut financial aid to the [[Palestinian Authority]] if Hamas members hold ministerial positions. On February 19, 2006, interim Israeli Prime minister [[Ehud Olmert]] decided to stop transfer of the $50 million tax-receipts to the PA, which accounts for a third of the PA's budget and insure the wages of 140 000 Palestinian civil servants (among them 60 000 security and police officers). It also decided to increase controls on check-points, but finally decided against blocking Palestinians from [[commuting]] between Gaza and the West Bank and from prohibiting to work in Israel.

The result of the election is regarded as a major setback for governments attempting to mediate the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United States has said that it will not deal with Hamas until it renounces its support of suicide bombings and terrorism, and accepts Israel's right to exist. Israeli president [[Moshe Katsav]] and Israel's ex-prime minister [[Shimon Peres]] have both said that, if Hamas will accept Israel's right to exist and give up terror, Israel should negotiate with the organization. </ref> Although Hamas omitted its call for the destruction of Israel from its election manifesto, calling instead for "the establishment of an independent state whose capital is [[Jerusalem]]," several Hamas candidates insisted that the charter remains in force <ref> {{Citenews | title=Hamas drops call for destruction of Israel from manifesto | org=The Guardian | date=January 12, 2006 | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1684472,00.html}} </ref> <ref> {{Citenews | title=Hamas manifesto offers softer line ahead of vote | org=Yahoo News | date=January 12, 2006 | url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060112/wl_nm/mideast_hamas_dc}} </ref> <ref> {{Citenews | title=Hamas: Ceasefire for return to 1967 border | org=Y Net News | date=January 30, 2006 | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3207845,00.html}} </ref> On Feb 8, Hamas head Haled Mash'al speaking in Cairo had clarfied that ""Anyone who thinks Hamas will change is wrong," stating that while Hamas is willing for a ceasefire with Israel, its long term goal remains: elimination of Israel by Islam via a holy war ([[jihad]]) against non-Muslims in all of what he called [[Palestine]][http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/09/wmid09.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/02/09/ixworld.html].

The [[Quartet for the Middle East|Quartet]] threatened to cut all funds to the Palestinian Authority, with only Russia warning against the potential dangers of cutting out the PA from any Occidental support. On the other hand, interim [[Prime Minister of Israel|Israeli Prime minister]] [[Ehud Olmert]], who called the PA a "terrorist authority" and declared that these measures "were not against [[civilian]]s but against a terrorist power", decided on February 19, 2006 to stop transferring approximatively $50 millions tax receipts to the Palestinian Authority (which account for a third of the PA's budget). {{ref label|Reuters|1|a}} <ref> {{Citenews | title=Israel halts funds for Palestinians, Abbas slams move | org=Reuters | date=February 19, 2006 | url=http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=uri:2006-02-19T204037Z_01_L17580155_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml&pageNumber=0&summit=}} </ref>. These measures were to be implemented start of March 2006. Criticizing them, moderate [[Labour Party (Israel)|Labour leader]] [[Amir Peretz]] said that they are "indirect ways" to "get around Hamas and strengthen moderate forces" among the Palestinians <ref> {{Citenews | title=Israel Threatens Tough Economic Sanctions | org=AP | date=February 17, 2006 | url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ISRAEL_PALESTINIANS?SITE=WKHG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT}} </ref>. Before the Israeli decision to cut transfer of tax receipts, Palestinian Assembly passed legislation giving to the Palestinian President, [[Mahmoud Abbas]], the power to appoint a court that could veto legislation passed by the new Hamas-led parliament to be sworn in start of February. The constitutional court would veto legislation deemed in violation of the Palestinians' Basic Law, a forerunner to the Palestinian constitution. Palestinian deputies also backed a [[decree]] which automatically makes members of the incoming parliament members of the [[Palestine Liberation Organisation]]'s (PLO) parliament in exile. Unlike the Hamas charter, the PLO charter recognises the legitimacy of Israel. <ref> {{Citenews | title=Palestinian Parliament Gives New Power | org=The Washington Post | date=February 13, 2006 | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021300259.html?sub=AR}} {{Citenews | title=Outgoing MPs boost Abbas' power | org=BBC News | date=February 13, 2006 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4708820.stm}} </ref>. Furthermore, in an interview in Russian newspaper ''[[Nezavisimaya Gazeta]]'', published on February 13, 2006, Hamas leader [[Khaled Mashal]] declared that Hamas would stop armed struggle against Israel if it recognized the 1967 borders and withdrew itself from all [[Palestinian territories|Palestinian occupied territories]] (including the West Bank and [[East Jerusalem]]). However, Mashal continued to refuse to acknowledge the [[Road map for peace]], adopted by the Quartet in [[June 2003]], "since nobody respects it". The Road map projected the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in 2005. <ref> {{Citenews | title=Hamas will end armed struggle if Israel quits territories - leader | org=AFX News Limited | date=February 13, 2006 | url=http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/02/12/afx2519867.html}}{{Citenews | title=Le Hamas pose ses conditions ("Hamas states its conditions") | org=Le Figaro | date=February 13, 2006 | url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/20060213.FIG0288.html}} [http://www.ng-az.info ''Nezavisimaya Gazeta'' website] </ref>.

Following Hamas' victory in the Palestinian elections EU announced that future aid to the Palestinians is tied to "Three Principles" outlined by the international community:
* Hamas must renounce violence
* Hamas must recognize Israel right to exist
* Hamas must express clear support for the Middle East peace process, as outlined in the [[Oslo accords]].

==Legal action against Hamas==
In 2004, a federal court in the United States found Hamas liable in a civil lawsuit for the 1996 murders of Yaron and Efrat Ungar near [[Beit Shemesh]], [[Israel]]. Hamas has been ordered to pay the families of the Ungars $116 million. On [[July 5]], [[2004]], the court issued a default judgment against the [[Palestinian Authority]] and the [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] regarding the Ungars' claim that the Palestinian Authority and the PLO provide [[safe haven]] to Hamas.

On [[August 20]], [[2004]], three Palestinians, one a naturalized American citizen, were charged with a "lengthy racketeering conspiracy to provide money for [[terrorism|terrorist]] acts in Israel". The indicted include [[Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook]], senior member of Hamas, believed to be currently in [[Damascus]], [[Syria]] and considered a [[fugitive]]. The two others &mdash; [[Muhammad Hamid Khalil Salah]] of [[Chicago, Illinois]] and [[Abdelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar]] of Alexandria, Va. &mdash; were arrested on [[August 19]]. The indictment states that Salah received $50,000 which was used over the course of the following three months to help Hamas finance eight terrorist attacks that resulted in the deaths of numerous Israeli civilians [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/hamas_indictments][http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040820-113158-5933r.htm (Washington Times)].

On [[February 8]], 2006, Hamas has been successfully sued in an Israeli court. The Jerusalem District Court has awarded the Gavish family a judgment in the amount of N.I.S. 90 million ($20 million). Following an attack on their home which left four members of the household, including both parents, dead, six children brought suit in May 2002. Concerning its rationale for awarding the Gavish family punitive damages, the District Court wrote:
: "With no need to elaborate, I believe, that the current case is appropriate for awarding punitive compensation against the defendant. The sinful act of murder justifies such an award. It is a terrorist action, which was done with intent and full awareness to cause the death of the victims and the damage to their families, since there is no other explanation for this act. Behind the act is a pure hatred that brought about the death of the decedents and a very difficult and traumatic experience upon the plaintiffs - their survivors."[http://imra.org.il/story.php3?id=28444]

==List of notable Hamas members==
* [[Gaza Strip]]
** [[Sheikh Ahmed Yassin]] - spiritual leader and founder of Hamas ([http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,1175454,00.html assassinated by Israeli military operation], 2004)
** [[Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi|Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi]] - leader in Gaza ([http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F6718419-88F8-48D0-A3F1-2E4A4F2817AC.htm assassinated by Israeli military operation], 2004)
** [[Ibrahim al-Makadmeh]] - co founder of Hamas ([http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/629/re2.htm assassinated by Israeli military operation], 2003)
** [[Mahmoud al-Zahar]] - "political wing"
** [[Ismail Haniya]] - "political wing"
** [[Sa'id A-Siyam]] - "political wing"
** [[Ismail Abu Shanab]] - "political wing" ([http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A29070-2003Aug21&notFound=true assassinated by Israeli military operation], 2003)
** [[Salah Shahade]] - leader of "military wing" ([http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/meast/07/22/mideast/ assassinated by Israeli military operation], 2002)
** [[Mohammed Deif]] - leader of "military wing"
** [[Adnan al-Ghoul]] - chief explosives expert in Gaza and "father of the [[Qassam rocket]]"[http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=6580807]([http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1098331916230 assassinated by Israeli military operation], 2004)
** [[Umm Nidal]] - "the mother of martyrs"

* [[West Bank]]
** [[Mohammad Taha]] - co founder of Hamas (arrested by Israel, March 2003)
** [[Members of Hamas called Qawasameh|Qawasameh clan]] in [[Hebron]] - provided local leaders and suicide bombers to Hamas (some members killed by Israeli military operations, one arrested, 2002-2003)
** [[Yahya Ayyash]] - the "Muhandees", a senior [[bomb]]-maker (assassinated by Israeli military operation, 1996)
** [[Muhammad Abu Tir]] - "political wing" senior leader

* Arab and Muslim countries
** [[Khaled Mashal]] - leader of Hamas, based in [[Damascus]].
** [[Mousa Abu Marzuk]] - Hamas senior, Damascus, believed to have fled [[Syria]] in September 2004.
** [[Izz El-Deen Sheikh Khalil]] - Hamas mid-level, "military wing" (according to Israel) Damascus (assassinated by Israeli military operation, 2004)

<!-- list is now sorted according to Israel's hierarchy, but there is a mess: (1) because some leaders were killed and than replaced by less senior leaders. (2) because it is difficult to compare the Gaza leadership to the Damascus leadership. -->

== See also ==
* [[wikisource:Hamas Covenant|Hamas Covenant]]
* [[Hamastan]]
* [[Holy Land Foundation]]
* [[Sheikh Ahmed Yassin]]
* [[Qassam rocket]]
* [[Members of Hamas called Qawasameh]]
* [[Palestinian political violence]]
* [[PLO and Hamas]]

==Notes and references==
<references/>
*Kushner, Harvey W. (2002). ''Encyclopedia of Terrorism''. Sage Publications. ISBN 0761924086

==External links==
*[http://www.hamasonline.org/indexx.php?page=hamas Hamas official website (not updated since 2004)]
*[http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:btFiPAkN71kJ:www.alqassam.com/arabic/%20&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1 Hamas military wing web site]
*[http://www.palestine-info.info/arabic/hamas/ Website for the study of the ideas of Hamas, not the official website.] In Arabic.
*[http://www.pmw.org.il/tv-hamas.htm Hamas in its own words]
*[http://www.palestine-info.co.uk/am/publish/ "The Palestinian Information Center"] Mideast news from the Hamas point of view. In English.
*[http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/Excluded/Hamasbooks.htm Books on Hamas]
*[http://ict.org.il/organizations/orgdet.cfm?orgid=13 Hamas] at the [http://ict.org.il/ The Institute for Counter-Terrorism] at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Israel
*[http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=7&docid=30286.EN The Hamas organization is responsible for more than 425 terror attacks in Israel from November 6, 2000 to April 17, 2004] at [[IDF]]
*[http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=conflict&ID=SP42602 Suicide Bomber's Father: Let Hamas and Jihad Leaders Send Their Own Sons] a letter to the editor of the London Arabic-language daily Al-Hayat. October 8, 2002
*[http://www.adl.org/main_israel/hamas_facts.htm Hamas Fact Sheet] and [http://www.adl.org/main_israel/hamas_own_words.htm Hamas in Their Own Words] at [[Anti-Defamation League|ADL]]
*[http://cfrterrorism.org/groups/hamas.html Hamas] at [[Council on Foreign Relations]], October 2005
*[http://abcnews.go.com/International/print?id=79201 Frequently Asked Questions About Hamas] at ''[[ABC News]]''
*[http://www.defenddemocracy.org/in_the_media/in_the_media_show.htm?doc_id=274430 Springtime for Hamas] by Diane West at ''The Jewish World Review'', April 22, 2005
*[http://www.defenddemocracy.org/research_topics/research_topics_show.htm?doc_id=275458&attrib_id=7777 Hamas vs. America] by [[Daniel Pipes]]. Published in ''[[The New York Sun]]'' on May 3, 2005
*[http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/eng_n/isa.htm Hamas terrorist infrastructures in the regions of Hebron and Ramallah exposed by The Israel Security Agency], October 12, 2005
*[http://www.nationalreview.com/script/printpage.p?ref=/comment/ottolenghi200601261002.asp Hamas Without Veils. No more hiding behind the PA] by Emanuele Ottolenghi in ''[[National Review Online]]'', January 26, 2006
*[http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2006/01/29hamas.html Political earthquake strikes as Hamas wins landslide] by Kevin Simpson on [[Committee for a Workers' International|CWI]] Website, January 29, 2006
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4661066.stm BBC: Hamas urges EU not to end funding]
*[http://users.skynet.be/diab/Europe/Hamas.htm The EU's new Palestine dilemma by Khaled Diab]
*[http://www.obelus.org/index.php?artID=18 Checkmate: the Hamas victory]
*[http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=642 Russia is Ready for Dialogue With HAMAS]
*[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/03/AR2006020302605_pf.html Give Hamas Nothing for Free] by [[Dennis Ross]]. (''[[The Washington Post]]'', p. B07. February 5, 2006)
*[http://www.historyguy.com/hamas.html Description and historical information on Hamas (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya, or Islamic Resistance Movement.]

[[Category:Anti-Semitism]]
[[Category:Hamas|National Liberation Movements]]
[[Category:Israeli-Palestinian conflict]]
[[Category:Palestinian militant groups]]
[[Category:Political parties in Palestine]]


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[[zh-min-nan:Hamas]]

Revision as of 20:48, 4 March 2006

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