Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (HAMAS) NEAR EAST (NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST)

Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya (Hamas) was established in 1987 at the onset of the first Palestinian uprising, or First Intifada, as an outgrowth of the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas has a military wing known as the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades that has conducted many anti-Israel attacks in both Israel and the Palestinian territories since the 1990s. These attacks have included large-scale bombings against Israeli civilian targets, small-arms attacks, improvised roadside explosives, and rocket attacks. Hamas claimed responsibility for the August 2001 bombing of a Jerusalem Sbarro pizzeria that killed 15 people, including two Americans, and injured more than 120. In April 2016, a Hamas member carried out a suicide attack on a bus in Jerusalem that killed 20 people.

On October 8, 1997, the U.S. Department of State designated Hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. Later, on October 31, 2001, the Department of State designated Hamas as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224, as amended. As a result, all of Hamas’property, and interests in property, subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Hamas. It is a crime to knowingly provide, or to attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to Hamas.