What is Hamas?

Question

What exactly is Hamas and how were they created? How do they run Gaza?

Answers to any or all questions are appreciated. Please and thank you!

Answer 1

They are a Palestinian political and terrorist group. They gained strength after the Israeli-Jordanian Peace Treaty was signed. Article Eight of that treaty named the Hashemite King of Jordan as the "Sharif" (Custodian) of all of the Islamic holy places in Jerusalem. That position is normally held by an Islamic cleric, not a secular leader.
They turned from random acts of terrorism to political actions and defeated the government of the Palestinian National Authority which had a majority of Al Fatah members. Those members were allied with Yassar Arafat and those in the old Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).
Hamas is now the governing party in Gaza and Jericho.

Answer 2

Hamas is an anti-Zionist political force made up of right wing Moslems. The progressive forces among the Palestinians were destroyed by a combination of repression and corruption. Accordingly, labour movements in the Arab world have generally been repressed and replaced by these religious extremists. They receive support from conservative groups in for example Saudi Arabia. Do not make the mistake of putting all anti-American Arabs in one category. Hamas have nothing to do with Ba'athists, for example. Gaddafi is a sworn enemy of the religious extremists and has a price on his head. B ecause of Israeli action, Palestine is economially on its knees and 50% of Palestinains are on the poverty line. By offering welfare, Hamas is able to garner support among the poor of the Gaza strip. Remember, though, they won an election legitimately, but the Israelis and their US masters chose not to recognise this. Check out wikipedia if you want more details.

Answer 3

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamic political party, they are officially listed as a terrorist organisation by the EU, US and Israel. I think it's fair to say they aren't the sort of people you'd want roudn for tea, they are responsible for suicide bombings in Israel and are supposedly funded by the Iranians.

Answer 4

Ripped from wikipedia.com

Hamas (حركة حماس; acronym: حركة المقاومة الاسلامية, or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or "Islamic Resistance Movement,"[1]) is a Palestinian Islamic militant organization and political party.

Answer 5

hamas is a dip made from chickpeas it tastes very nice with pitta bread and salad or something or nothing