Formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas was founded in 1987 during the first Palestinian Intifada, or uprising, against Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Emerging from the Muslim Brotherhood, it combines political activism with armed resistance. The group is designated a terrorist organisation by Israel, the United States, the European Union, Britain, Canada, and Japan, though it frames its armed operations as resistance against occupation.
A political turning point came in 2006, when Hamas, running under the name 'Change and Reform', won the Palestinian parliamentary elections, defeating the dominant Fatah movement.
The following year, after clashes with Fatah forces, Hamas seized full control of the Gaza Strip, splitting Palestinian governance between Gaza and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
Since then, Gaza has faced a strict Israeli and Egyptian blockade. Its population of more than two million has endured multiple wars in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021 causing widespread destruction and thousands of casualties.
The largest escalation in recent history occurred on 7 October, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise and deadly attack inside Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. The ensuing Israel-Hamas war has led to heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza, where local authorities report more than 65,000 Palestinian deaths and widespread famine.
Hamas’ armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, has carried out rocket attacks, suicide bombings, and other operations.
Israel has targeted and killed several top Hamas figures, including Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh.
Hamas remains both a militant organisation and a political authority in Gaza, shaping the ongoing conflict with Israel.
To Palestinians, it can represent armed resistance, but to much of the international community, it is seen as a group responsible for violence and instability.
Hamas seeks the recognition of Palestinian claims over historic Palestine. The group maintains that any ceasefire or negotiation must address prisoner releases, Israeli border crossings, and the lifting of blockades, and it frames these demands as non-negotiable for long-term peace.
A deal between Israel and Hamas could provide temporary ceasefires, humanitarian access, and the release of hostages, potentially easing immediate suffering in Gaza.
However, experts warn that unless it addresses core political disputes, governance divisions, and security concerns, a deal may be fragile and fail to stop future escalations, leaving the broader Israel-Palestine conflict unresolved.
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The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
Three Armenian citizens have been charged following an alleged attempt to attack Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at St Anna Cathedral in Yerevan on 29 March. Analysts say the incident reflects rising tensions between the government and the Church ahead of upcoming elections.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
A Russia-flagged tanker carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude has arrived in Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, marking the first major oil delivery to the island since the Trump administration cut off its fuel supplies.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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