Who Is Hamas
Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist organization that governs the Gaza Strip. The acronym stands for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya, meaning Islamic Resistance Movement.
History and Background
Hamas emerged in the early 1980s as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. It became prominent during the First Intifada and later won the majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council in 2006.
Governance and Current Role
Hamas has administered the Gaza Strip since 2007, providing social services and security while also being designated as a terrorist organization by several countries and international bodies. For more background, see the overview at https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hamas.
