who are hamas in gaza

Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist militant and political organization that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. It originated in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood during the First Intifada (Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation). Hamas is committed to armed resistance against Israel and seeks to establish an Islamic state in historic Palestine, including Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. It is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel. Hamas has a military wing called the al-Qassam Brigades and uses tactics such as rocket attacks, tunnels, and kidnapping. Its activities have led to repeated conflicts and wars with Israel, notably the major escalation in October 2023 when Hamas launched large-scale attacks resulting in heavy casualties and hostages. Despite losses of fighters over time, Hamas remains a significant force in Gaza, involved politically and militarily, and continues to control the territory separately from the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.