Hamas was founded in 1987 after the Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule in the West Bank and Gaza. It drew on a pre-existing network of Islamic activity in the area known as the Muslim Brotherhood, but moved away from that network's nonviolent stance.
Hamas has two main elements. Its military wing has been responsible for violence directed against Israel since 1993, including rocket attacks, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and the use of suicide bombers. The political wing engages in nonviolent activities, including running schools and charities.
In 2006, Hamas won a decisive majority in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, making the movement the de facto government in Gaza. Many members of the international community refused to recognize Hamas unless the movement complied with a series of demands, leading to an international embargo that caused a serious deterioration in living standards in the Gaza Strip.
