Oct 30 (Reuters) - The Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7, triggering an Israel-Hamas war that marked the most serious escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in many years.
It is designated as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, European Union, Canada, Egypt and Japan.
Hamas's 1988 founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, although Hamas leaders have at times offered a long-term truce, or Hudna in Arabic, with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war.
Since then, there have been numerous rounds of conflict with Israel, often involving Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and Israeli airstrikes and bombardment of Gaza.
Although a Sunni Muslim group, Hamas is part of a regional alliance comprising Iran, Syria and the Shi'ite Islamist group Hezbollah in Lebanon, which all broadly oppose U.S. policy in the Middle East and Israel.
Persons:
Suhaib, Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas, Deen al, Mohammed Deif, Tom Perry, Stephen Farrell, Nick Macfie
Organizations:
Palestinian, Hamas, Movement, Muslim Brotherhood, West Bank, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, REUTERS, WHO, THE, Brigades, Hezbollah, Thomson
Locations:
Gaza, Israel, Egypt, United States, European Union, Canada, Japan, Oslo, Gaza City, Suhaib Salem, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, East, Qatar