Hamas

Hamas is a Palestinian nationalist Sunni Islamist political organisation with a militant wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas was founded in 1987, emerging from the Muslim Brotherhood. Headquartered in Gaza City, it has functioned as the de facto governing authority in the Gaza Strip since seizing control in 2007. Its primary mission is the establishment of an independent Islamic state in historical Palestine, pursuing this through armed resistance against Israeli occupation. Hamas also provides social services in Gaza. It is widely designated as a terrorist organisation by numerous countries, including the UK, US and EU.