Hamas
Hamas is a Sunni Islamist terror organization and the de facto governing authority in the Gaza Strip since 2007. Committed to Israel's destruction, it orchestrated the October 7, 2023, massacre. As of July 2026, it remains a resilient insurgent force attempting to rebuild its military framework despite significant IDF degradation.
Hamas emerged in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, eventually seizing control of the Gaza Strip in a violent 2007 coup. Since then, the group has systematically utilized civilian infrastructure—including schools, mosques, and hospitals—to build a fortified terror base. Its founding charter explicitly calls for the elimination of Israel through jihad. Following the atrocities of October 7, 2023, where Hamas-led terrorists murdered approximately 1,200 people and abducted over 240, Israel launched Operation Swords of Iron to dismantle the group's military and governing capabilities. By mid-2026, the conflict has transitioned into a persistent counter-insurgency. While the IDF has dismantled most organized battalions and controls approximately 70% of Gaza's territory, Hamas continues to exert influence through extensive subterranean networks and the control of humanitarian aid. Recent intelligence reports from early July 2026 indicate the group is actively attempting to rebuild its military framework by recruiting a 'next generation' of fighters aged 18–22 and producing hundreds of explosive devices monthly. Despite the elimination of its top leadership—including Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif—Hamas remains a significant threat, leveraging Iranian funding and waiting for potential political shifts in Israel. The group also faces internal pressure, as evidenced by rare public protests from Gazan civilians frustrated by the prolonged war and deteriorating living conditions. The IDF continues targeted operations to eliminate remaining commanders, such as the recent strike on Muhammad Na'im Jandiya, a senior operative who held Israeli hostages in the Shejaiya neighborhood.