HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
Description
HAMAS (in Arabic, an acronym for "Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamia" -- Islamic Resistance Movement -- and a word meaning zeal) is a radical Islamic fundamentalist organization which became active in the early stages of the intifada, operating primarily in the Gaza District but also in Judea and Samaria. Formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various HAMAS elements have used both political and violent means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others working openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, organize activities, and distribute propaganda. In a January 2006 election, Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian legislature.
Activities
HAMAS activists, especially those in the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, have conducted many attacks--including large-scale suicide bombings--against Israeli civilian and military targets. In the early 1990s, they also targeted suspected Palestinian collaborators and Fatah rivals. HAMAS increased its operational activity during 2002-2003 claiming numerous attacks against Israeli interests. The group has not targeted US interests--although some US citizens have been killed in HAMAS operations--and continues to confine its attacks to Israelis inside Israel and the territories.
Strength
Unknown number of official members; tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers.
External Aid
Receives some funding from Iran but primarily relies on donations from Palestinian expatriates around the world and private benefactors in moderate Arab states. Some fundraising and propaganda activity take place in Western Europe and North America.
Sources and Resources
- Based on Patterns of Global Terrorism, US Department of State
- Hamas: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy, Congressional Research Service
- Terrorist Financing: Hamas and Cryptocurrency Fundraising, Congressional Research Service
- Hamas: Background and Issues for Congress, Congressional Research Service, December 2, 2010
- Hamas and Israel: Conflicting Strategies of Group-Based Politics by Sherifa Zuhur, U.S. Army Strategic Studies Institute, December 2008
- Fatah and Hamas: the New Palestinian Factional Reality, Congressional Research Service, March 3, 2006
- Hamas and Fateh Neck and Neck As Palestinian Elections Near, U.S. Department of State Office of Research (INR), January 19, 2006
- Hamas: The Organization, Goals and Tactics of a Militant Palestinian Organization, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, October 14, 1993
- THE CHARTER OF ALLAH: THE PLATFORM OF THE ISLAMIC RESISTANCE MOVEMENT (HAMAS), Translated and annotated by Raphael Israeli, Harry Truman Research Institute, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- THE COVENANT OF THE HAMAS - MAIN POINTS
- HAMAS - The Islamic Resistance Movement IDF Spokesman - January 1993
- THE HAMAS - BACKGROUND Information Division, Israel Foreign Ministry - August 1997