Hamas
- militant_group
- Middle East
Summary
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist organization with political and military wings, founded in 1987 during the First Intifada. It governs the Gaza Strip de facto since 2007. Recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, EU, and others, Hamas is known for its long-standing opposition to Israel and extensive use of armed resistance.
Key Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
tunnel warfare
foreign backing
social infrastructure
Weaknesses
isolated in Gaza
infrastructure vulnerability
leadership losses
Strategic Goals
Hamas seeks to destroy Israel, establish a Palestinian state (historically over all of historical Palestine), and assert Islamic governance. It combines grassroots social services with armed resistance and engages in regional diplomacy through Qatar, Iran, and Turkey.
Relationships
Adversaries:
Current Leadership
Khaled Mashal
Head of Diaspora Affairs / Acting Political Leader
Khalil Al Hayya
Deputy Political Bureau Chief (Gaza)
Zaher Jabarin
West Bank Representative
Muhammad Darwish
Chairman of the Shura Council
Detailed Military Capabilities
aircrafts
No aircraft fleet; relies on makeshift gliders and paragliders in rare cases.
ground Forces
Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades act as Hamas’s ground forces; rely on tunnels and guerrilla tactics.
naval
Limited naval infiltration capabilities; some underwater commando operations.
missile Attack
Previously maintained a large stock of short- and medium-range rockets, but currently retains only a small fraction of that arsenal.
missile Defense
No formal missile defense; depends on hiding and underground shelters.
intelligence
Active counterintelligence and internal monitoring in Gaza; coordinates with external actors.
combat Experience
Extensive combat experience with Israel, including urban warfare, tunnel infiltration, and hybrid tactics.
drones
Deployed armed drones and surveillance UAVs, including Iranian-supported models.
foreign Support
Mostly relies on smuggling routes to obtain weapons; receives support from Iran. Receives significant political support.
cyber
Limited offensive cyber operations and information warfare tactics.