<Ul> <Li> Politics of Palestine </Li> <Li> Political parties </Li> <Li> Elections </Li> </Ul> <Li> Politics of Palestine </Li> <P> Hamas (Arabic: حماس ‎ ‎ Ḥamās, an acronym of حركة المقاومة الاسلامية Ḥarakat al - Muqāwamah al - ʾIslāmiyyah Islamic Resistance Movement) is a Palestinian Sunni - Islamic fundamentalist organization . It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad - Din al - Qassam Brigades . It has been the de facto governing authority of the Gaza Strip since its takeover of that area in 2007 . During this period it fought several wars with Israel . It is regarded, either in whole or in part, as a terrorist organization by several countries and international organizations, most notably by Israel, the United States and the European Union . </P> <P> Hamas was founded in 1987, soon after the First Intifada broke out, as an offshoot of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, which in its Gaza branch had been non-confrontational towards Israel, refrained from resistance, and was hostile to the PLO . Co-founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin stated in 1987, and the Hamas Charter affirmed in 1988, that Hamas was founded to liberate Palestine, including modern - day Israel, from Israeli occupation and to establish an Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip . The group has stated that it may accept a 10 - year truce if Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders and allows Palestinian refugees from 1948, including their descendants, to return to what is now Israel, although clarifying that this does not mean recognition of Israel or the end of the conflict . Hamas's military wing objected to the truce offer . Analysts have said that it seems clear that Hamas knows that many of its conditions for the truce could never be met . </P>

Hamas is a militant organization fighting against which country