Hamas
Hamas is a Sunni Islamist terror organization that has governed the Gaza Strip since its violent 2007 coup. Following the October 7, 2023 massacre, the group has faced a sustained IDF campaign to dismantle its military and governing capabilities. As of late 2026, the group is navigating a high-stakes disarmament framework while attempting to preserve its remaining influence through tactical maneuvers and the continued exploitation of civilian infrastructure.
Hamas emerged in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, eventually seizing control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Its founding charter explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel through jihad. For nearly two decades, the group systematically embedded its military infrastructure within civilian areas, utilizing schools, mosques, and hospitals as shields for its vast "Gaza Metro" tunnel network. Following the October 7, 2023 atrocities, in which Hamas-led terrorists murdered approximately 1,200 people and abducted over 240, Israel launched Operation Swords of Iron to eliminate the group as a military and political threat.
By mid-2026, the IDF had dismantled the majority of Hamas's organized battalions and eliminated top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif. Despite this degradation, the group has attempted to maintain influence through guerrilla tactics and control over humanitarian aid. In August 2026, a significant shift emerged via a framework proposed by the Gaza Peace Council. This roadmap focused on the collection of heavy weaponry—including ATGMs, long-range rockets, and heavy mortars—to be stored in depots guarded by multinational forces under a "zero trust" model.
Recent developments in early September 2026 indicate a dual-track reality. While diplomatic efforts led by U.S. envoy Jared Kushner and the Peace Council have secured theoretical commitments from Hamas to disarm and transfer authority to a temporary UN-recognized administration, the group continues to face intense military pressure. On September 6, 2026, the IDF eliminated Abu al-Walid Aqila, commander of the Qassam Brigades, in a targeted strike in Gaza City. This followed the capture of Mu'in al-Arabid, Hamas's internal security chief, in a joint Shin Bet and anti-Hamas militia operation on September 1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reinforced a security-first position, stating that Israel will not retreat from its current lines until Hamas is fully disarmed, including the surrender of light weapons and the decommissioning of all tunnel infrastructure.