Hamass

Hamass is a common misspelling of Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist organization and political party. This article uses Hamas as the standard form. Hamas was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood and grew from religious and charitable activity into a political and militant force.

The organization operates through two main components: a political bureau and the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, its armed wing. Hamas has carried out social services and charitable work in Palestinian territories, while also engaging in militant activities that have contributed to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It has remained particularly influential in the Gaza Strip, where it established governance after winning significant political support.

In 2006, Hamas won a plurality in Palestinian legislative elections, leading to a power struggle with Fatah and, by 2007, the group took control of the Gaza Strip. Since then, Hamas has administered Gaza amid recurring clashes with Israel and a blockade by Israel and Egypt. The international community has largely designated Hamas as a terrorist organization, though some countries apply more nuanced or limited designations.

Hamas’ leadership and strategy have been the subject of ongoing international diplomacy, with efforts focused on ceasefires, humanitarian access, and the future political arrangement of the Palestinian territories. The organization remains a central and controversial actor in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in Palestinian politics more broadly.