Hamas originated from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987, with initial support from Israel as a non-political religious group to counterbalance the secular Palestine Liberation Organization. Over time, Hamas became more involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, engaging direct attacks against Israel in the 1990s.
They won the 2006 Palestinian legislative election, gained a majority in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and took control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah in 2007. Since then, they have been involved in various conflicts with Israel. Unlike Fatah, Hamas considers Israel's existence illegitimate and rejects the two-state solution, advocating for an Islamic state covering Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. They promote Palestinian nationalism in an Islamic context and pursue armed struggle against Israel. Hamas has implemented changes to enhance the influence of Islamic law in the Gaza Strip and has both social and military wings.
In recent years, Hamas has gained increasing popularity and support among Palestinians. Surveys in 2021 indicated that 53% of Palestinians believed Hamas was the most deserving of representing and leading them, while only 14% preferred Fatah. Polls in 2023 showed Hamas had support ranging from 27-31% among Palestinians. However, the group's use of human shields, hostage-taking methods, and a history of violence against non-combatants, including civilian massacres, have led many Western countries and their allies to designate it as a terrorist organization. It's worth noting that a 2018 attempt to declare Hamas a terrorist organization at the United Nations failed.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas initiated a significant military campaign called "Operation al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel. This campaign involved targeting Israeli military bases, civilian massacres, and the kidnapping of both civilians and soldiers, leading to Israel's declaration of war and active combat in both Israel and the Gaza Strip.