Hamas, whose full name is the Islamic Resistance Movement, originated from the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and was created in the wake of the First Intifada in 1987, the conflict between the Israeli army and the Palestinian population. The main goals of this Islamist movement, which does not recognize the State of Israel, have always been to reclaim the militarily occupied Palestinian territories and establish an Islamic Palestinian state.
Since its creation, the movement has advocated for armed struggle and rejected peace processes such as the 1993 Oslo Accords. With its Al-Qassam military brigades, the group continues to multiply its attacks against Israel. The Jewish state always retaliates against these attacks, even if it means causing casualties among Palestinian civilians.
Over time, Hamas has strengthened its ties with the Palestinian population, developed alliances with Arab countries and increased its military capabilities. Le Monde looks back over the last few decades, during which the organization has become Israel's main enemy, in this three-minute video.
Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version.