Hamas, an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al Islamiya (Arabic for Islamic Resistance Movement), governs more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It is an Islamist militant movement and one of the Palestinian territories’ two major political parties. Its rival party, Fatah, rules the “West Bank” in Israel.
Hamas was founded as the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm in Palestine in December 1987. In 1988, Hamas published its charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of Islamic rule. Article 13 of the charter states, “There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad.”
In 2006, Hamas won 74 of the 132 seats, a majority of the seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council. Residents of the West Bank and Gaza Strip elected the council. The election outcome was not accepted by the rival party, Fatah, and the party ousted Hamas from power in the West Bank. In Gaza, Hamas defeated Fatah’s militias and retained power. Consequently, Palestinians have not voted for a legislature since 2006.
Hamas has ruled the Gaza Strip as a de facto one-party state. The Freedom House gives the Gaza Strip a score of 8 out of 100 for its freedom status because the political and civil rights of residents are severely restrained or denied.
PRAYER
Under the leadership and teachings of Hamas, the Palestinians have been taught by them not just to dislike but to hate the Jewish people. The deception of hatred is rampant among them. Because they do not bless Israel, they do not realize that they are under a curse (Genesis 12:3) In the past few months, more than 200 Palestinians had a dream or vision of Jesus Christ at one time, and all of them received Christ. Pray for the Palestinians to have dreams and visions during this difficult time, bringing them to salvation.
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