The Movement That Changed the Middle East

On the morning of October 7, 2023, the world woke up to images that would shock the international community. Armed fighters poured across the border from Gaza into Israel. Communities near the frontier were attacked. Hundreds of civilians were killed, thousands of rockets were launched, and hostages were taken into Gaza. For Israel, it was the deadliest single day in the country’s history. For the Middle East, it marked the beginning of yet another devastating war.

At the center of the storm was a name the world had heard for decades: Hamas.

who is hamas

For some people, Hamas is a resistance movement fighting against Israeli occupation. For others, it is one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world. Governments, scholars, journalists, and activists fiercely disagree about what Hamas truly represents. Yet despite the endless debate, one fact is undeniable: few movements in modern history have had such a profound impact on the politics, violence, and future of the Middle East.

But Hamas did not appear overnight.

Its story stretches back nearly a century—to the streets of Egypt in the 1920s, when a young teacher named Hassan al-Banna founded a movement known as the Muslim Brotherhood. That organization sought to revive Islamic society and challenge Western influence across the Arab world. Over time, its ideas spread across borders, including into Gaza and the Palestinian territories.

history of hamas