A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION: HAMAS

Terrorist Organization: HAMAS

A Terrorist Organization: HAMAS

Part 1: Hamas Profile

Name

"Hamas" is both an acronym for the group's title (in Arabic): Harakat Al Muqawama Al Islamiyya (Islamic opposition Movement), and a phrase in itself that means "zeal" or "enthusiasm."

Founded In

1987 as an arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, a religious and political association originating in Egypt in 1928. It was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the foremost of its predecessor, a benevolent society called Mujama. Yassin was assassinated in April 2004.

Home Base

Gaza town, in the Palestinian Gaza narrow piece, one of the areas used by by Israel in the 1967 war.

Backing & Affiliations

Hamas has historic obtained support from Iran and from private donors, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the Arabian gulf region. It has furthermore received capital from Palestinian expatriates. Many funds historically have been administered to Hamas through Islamic benevolent society associations, but this funding has slowed since crackdowns on terrorist financing following 9/11.

Objectives

Hamas aims to set up an Islamic state in the West Bank and the Gaza strip. This goal combines Islamist objectives with Palestinian nationalism, two distinct ideological structures that blossomed in the 1960s and 1970s especially. Their charter is explicit on this issue: "Hamas considers Nationalism as part and parcel of the devout faith. Nothing is loftier or deeper in Nationalism than conducting Jihad agains the foe and tackling him when he groups foot on the land of the Muslims."

Attitude toward Israel

Historically, Hamas has called for the decimation of the state of Israel, and denied to identify it. Its manifesto contains powerful and incendiary dialect about the requirement for Muslims to salary jihad against foreign usurpers of Muslim lands. Although Hamas has sustained its fiery rhetoric, there are also a number of signals that Hamas' aims are softer than the group's language.

As the head ruling party of the Palestinian territories after their election victory in January 2006, Hamas has tacitly acknowledged a more normal connection with Israel. And:

In private, Hamas managers are more pragmatic about their relations with Israel and the prospect of unceasing labour than their implacable public places would suggest. They have suggested a provisional 'truce' possibly lasting numerous years if Israel permits a correct Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.

Organization

Hamas was first coordinated as a non-violent charitable organization. Several years after its origin, it had established recruitment, security and publications sections.

It furthermore conceived a military wing called the Izz Al Din Qassam Brigades, which has been to blame for most Hamas aggression, encompassing its suicide bombings in Israel.

Notable Attacks

On June 25, 2006, Hamas killed two Israeli soldiers and kidnapped a corporal, Gilad Shalit, demanding the issue of all Palestinian prisoners under 18 years vintage for his return. The case remained unanswered by mid-autumn 2006.

AFebruary 6, 1996 suicide strike at the Jersualem bus station killed 17 citizens and 9 soldiers.

On October 19, 1994, a suicide strike on a bus in central Tel Aviv left 21 Israelis and a Dutch tourist ...