HAMAS: A Picture of Terror

April 3, 2006

1988 Hamas Covenant

“The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine, for under the wing of Islam followers of all religions can coexist in security and safety where their lives, possessions and rights are concerned. In the absence of Islam, strife will be rife, oppression spreads, evil prevails and schisms and wars will break out.”

“Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Koran its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes.”

“The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgment Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up.“

“There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.”

“The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said: ‘The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say, “O Muslims, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him…”’”

“The Zionist invasion is a vicious invasion…It relies greatly in its infiltration and espionage operations on the secret organizations it gave rise to, such as the Freemasons, the Rotary and Lions clubs, and other sabotage groups. All these organizations, whether secret or open, work in the interest of Zionism and according to its instructions.”

To read the whole charter, go here.

“The Palestinian people [have] chosen Hamas with its known stances. If America wants to negotiate with Hamas, it is most welcome, but based on the position for which the people chose us.”

—Khalid Mash’al, the overall head of Hamas, speaking from exile in Damascus

Who or What is Hamas?

Hamas was formed in late 1987 as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Various Hamas elements have used both political and violent means, including terrorism, to pursue the goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel. Loosely structured, with some elements working clandestinely and others working openly through mosques and social service institutions, Hamas recruits members, raises money, organizes activities, and distributes propaganda. It is listed by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization.

Activities

Hamas activists, especially those in the Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades, have conducted many attacks––including large scale suicide bombings––against Israeli civilian and military targets.

In the early 1990s, they also targeted suspected Palestinian collaborators and Fatah rivals and claimed several attacks during the unrest in late 2000.

Strength

The number of hardcore members is unknown, but there are tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers.

On the Disengagement

“The withdrawal marks the end of the Zionist dream and is a sign of the moral and psychological decline of the Jewish state. We believe that [terrorism] is the only way to pressure the Jews.”

––Ahmed Al-Bahar, senior Hamas leader

External Aid

Hamas receives funding from Palestinian expatriates, Iran, and private benefactors in Saudi Arabia and other moderate Arab states. Some fundraising and propaganda activities take place in western Europe and North America.

Is Hamas a terror group, political group, or social welfare group?

Hamas is responsible for: