Who is Hamas? A Glance at the Militant Organization Ruling the Gaza Strip

Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic militant organization and political party that currently governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas was founded in 1987 and seeks to establish an independent Palestinian state in place of Israel, and has been engaged in military conflict with Israel for decades. On October 7th, 2023 involving land, sea, and air assaults that killed hundreds on both sides. Half of Gaza's population of over 2 million is under 19 years old, and unemployment is over 40%. Infrastructure, healthcare, and livelihoods have been degraded after years of conflict and blockade. Iran is a major supporter and funder of Hamas but Iran's leader claimed Tehran was not involved in the recent large-scale attack, praising Palestinian youth for their actions.