What is Hamas and why is it fighting with Israel in Gaza?

Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have been at war since early October.

The bloodiest attack in Israel’s history was initiated by militants from Hamas who launched an unprecedented offensive from Gaza.

An Israeli military operation ensued, killing hundreds in Palestinian territories.

Waves of Hamas gunmen broke through Gaza’s border into Israel early on October 7. Numerous rockets were fired by Hamas as well.

More than 100 persons perished from their wounds after the gunmen slaughtered 1,200 people that day.

Among the dead were 364 young festival attendees, as well as youngsters and the elderly.

Over 250 additional people were kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza.

Gaza was ruled by Hamas alone in 2007 following the group’s violent expulsion of competing political parties.

It was said to have 30,000 fighters before to the start of the war and has an armed wing.

The Islamic Resistance Movement is the group’s name, and its goal is to replace Israel with an Islamic state. Hamas is dedicated to destroying Israel and opposes its right to exist.

As a reaction to what it claims are Israeli atrocities against the Palestinian people. Hamas justified their strike.

These include Jewish settlement development in the occupied West Bank and security raids on the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, which is the third holiest place in Islam.

Hamas also demands the lifting of Israel’s and Egypt’s siege of the Gaza Strip, which both nations claim is necessary for security, as well as the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.