https://irp.fas.org/crs/931014-hamas.htm

Congressional Research Service Issue Brief Hamas had its beginnings in 1967 as a wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. 1

In 1978, the same organization was registered with Israeli authorities as a nonprofit, religious organization under the name, `al Mujama,' under the leadership of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, who was also head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza. 2 At first, the new organization spent most of its time promoting Islamic views and winning support for the Islamic movement in Palestinian institutions, universities and mosques. 3

Footnotes at end of article.

Hamas, as it is currently organized, was founded in December 1987 just when the intifada (uprising) in the occupied territories was starting. The Hamas agenda is based largely upon the principles of Islamic fundamentalism that were gaining momentum throughout the Arab world at that time. The goal of the founders was to become directly involved in the intifada and ultimately gain control of the Palestinian movement and bring it more in line with fundamentalist Islamic thought. Most observers believed that the outbreak of the intifada was a spontaneous event and the Hamas founders were just one of many Palestinian opposition groups, including the PLO, that were vying to gain control of the demonstrations.

Hamas success in winning quick support among the Muslim population of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank was due in large part to its Islamic origins and its earlier activities as a religious and charitable institution. One observer tells how reports and instructions were often announced over mosque loudspeakers. 4 The Israeli embassy says that, within a week of its publication in August 1988, the Hamas covenant was posted in mosques throughout the territories.

Part of the reason for Hamas success in gaining popular support may have been frustration among Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza stemming from the PLO's inability to make headway toward a solution of the `Palestinian problem.' Muslims in particular were attracted to Hamas because of its identification with the Islamic fundamentalist movement which set it apart in many ways from the PLO.

more: https://irp.fas.org/crs/931014-hamas.htm

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Speaker, I attach for the interest of my colleagues a revised edition of a report on the Hamas organization written by Congressional Research Service entitled `Hamas: The Organizations, Goals and Tactics of a Militant Palestinian Organization.'

This report was previously issued under the misleading title, `Hamas: Freedom Fighters or Terrorists?' and diluted the avowedly terrorist nature of the organization.

This seemed especially inconsistent with our own policy particularly when this year, for the first time, Hamas was included in the State Department's list of terrorist groups issued in April 1993.

After inquiries by myself and the Anti-Defamation League, a human relations organization that combats anti-Semitism, and all forms of bigotry and discrimination, CRS gave assurances that the report would be revised. I am gratified to note that CRS revisions addressed all the points brought to their attention by the Anti-Defamation League in its analysis of the report. The result is a more indepth and accurate characterization of both the Hamas organization and U.S. policy.

This revised report reflects the high standard of the work Members of Congress have been able to consistently count on from the Congressional Research Service.