Key points about Hamas include:

Hamas, short for the Islamic Resistance Movement, is a Palestinian political and military organization with a significant presence in the Gaza Strip and some support in the West Bank and among Palestinians in other parts of the Middle East. Hamas was founded in 1987 during the First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.

Key points about Hamas include:

Ideology: Hamas is an Islamist organization with a stated goal of liberating Palestine from Israeli occupation and establishing an Islamic state in historic Palestine. It opposes the existence of Israel and rejects any negotiations or peace agreements with the Israeli government.

Governance: In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections, which led to it taking control of the Gaza Strip. Since then, Hamas has governed Gaza, while the West Bank has been under the control of the Palestinian Authority, which is dominated by the rival Fatah party.

Armed Wing: Hamas maintains an armed wing known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, which has engaged in armed resistance against Israel, including rocket attacks and occasional clashes along the Gaza-Israel border. This has led to several conflicts between Hamas and Israel, including major conflicts in 2008-2009, 2012, and 2014.

International Designation: Many countries and organizations, including the United States and the European Union, classify Hamas as a terrorist organization due to its use of violence against civilians and its rejection of Israel's right to exist.

Social Services: In addition to its militant activities, Hamas provides social services, including healthcare, education, and welfare programs, to the Palestinian population in Gaza. This has helped it maintain some level of support among Palestinians.

Relations with Fatah: Hamas has had a tumultuous relationship with Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political party led by the late Yasser Arafat and, more recently, Mahmoud Abbas. The rivalry between the two factions has often led to internal Palestinian divisions and conflicts.

Efforts have been made over the years to reconcile the differences between Hamas and Fatah and to establish a unified Palestinian government, but these efforts have often faced significant challenges and have not resulted in a lasting resolution to the political division between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Hamas remains a complex and controversial player in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.