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Hamas
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Hamas

Palestinian Islamist movement governing Gaza since 2007; designated a terrorist organisation by the US, EU, and UK.

On 14 March, Hamas urged Iran to stop attacking Gulf neighbours, exposing the pressure between Qatar’s Mediation role and Iran’s arms supply.

Last refreshed: 22 September 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Can Hamas survive the collapse of both its Iranian arms supply and Gaza's civilian infrastructure?

Timeline for Hamas

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Background

Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist movement that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades serve as Hamas's military wing. The movement operates as both a political organisation and an armed group, making its external relationships central to its ability to govern, negotiate and sustain military activity.

Qatar has hosted Hamas’s political bureau and has acted as an important interlocutor in Ceasefire diplomacy. Iran has also been an important source of support for Hamas. The movement’s 14 March call for Iran to stop striking Gulf neighbours showed that these relationships can impose conflicting demands.

That tension matters because Hamas cannot treat political sponsorship, humanitarian access and military supply as separate questions. Israel’s killing of a Hamas official in Lebanon on 15 March also showed that Hamas personnel remain exposed beyond Gaza.

Key Issues
Gulf strikes

Hamas distances itself from Iran

On 14 March, Hamas publicly urged Iran to stop attacking Gulf neighbours. The statement placed the movement apart from Tehran’s regional military strategy while Qatar faced Iranian attacks and remained important to Hamas’s political and humanitarian position.

The choice exposed a constraint on Hamas rather than a clean realignment. On 15 March, Israel killed a Hamas official in Lebanon after the statement, while the event record described Hamas as unable to restore full Iranian alignment without risking Qatari support or to sever Iranian ties without losing weapons supply.

Common Questions
What is Hamas?
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist movement founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. It has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 through its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and maintains a political bureau in Doha, Qatar.
Did Hamas break with Iran?
Yes. In March 2026, Hamas publicly called on Iran to stop striking Gulf neighbours, the first such open break in the relationship. The move was attributed to Qatari pressure: Qatar hosts Hamas's political bureau and was itself under Iranian Ballistic missile attack.
Who funds Hamas?
Iran is Hamas's principal state sponsor, channelling weapons, training, and financing through the IRGC Quds Force network since at least 2006. Qatar provides political and humanitarian funding through its role as Ceasefire interlocutor.
Where is Hamas based?
Hamas's political bureau is headquartered in Doha, Qatar, since 2012. Its military wing operates primarily in Gaza, with personnel also present in Lebanon and other regional locations.
What is Hamas and who controls Gaza?
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist movement founded in 1987 as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood. It has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007 through its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, though Israeli military operations since October 2023 have severely degraded its governing capacity. Its political bureau is in Doha, Qatar.
What happened on 7 October 2023 and what was Hamas's role?
On 7 October 2023, Hamas-led forces launched a large-scale attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and taking around 250 hostages. Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza that has since killed over 35,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of the territory's civilian infrastructure.
Did Hamas break with Iran in 2026?
Yes. In March 2026, Hamas publicly called on Iran to stop striking Gulf neighbours — the first such open break in the relationship since 2012. The move was driven by Qatari pressure: Qatar hosts Hamas's political bureau and was itself under Iranian Ballistic missile attack on Ras Laffan.Source: event
Who funds and arms Hamas?
Iran is Hamas's principal state sponsor, channelling weapons, training, and financing through the IRGC Quds Force network since at least 2006. Qatar provides political and humanitarian funding through its role as Ceasefire interlocutor. The 2026 public rupture with Iran raises questions about whether this arms supply will continue.
Where is the Hamas political bureau based?
Hamas's political bureau has been headquartered in Doha, Qatar since 2012. Its military wing operates primarily in Gaza, with personnel also present in Lebanon and other regional locations.
Source Material
What Is Hamas?What is Hamas?Hamas: Key factsHamas