Islamic Resistance Movement
Proper noun A militant Islamic fundamentalist political organization that emerged in the late 1980s. It is primarily known for its strong opposition to peace with Israel, its use of terrorism—including pioneering tactics like suicide bombings—as a primary weapon, and its goal of establishing an Islamic state in the region encompassing Israel. It is a rival to other Palestinian political factions.
The term "Islamic Resistance Movement" is used as the official English translation of the organization's Arabic name, Hamas. It functions as a proper noun and is typically preceded by the definite article "the." * The Islamic Resistance Movement gained political control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. * Negotiations are complicated by the stance of the Islamic Resistance Movement. * A leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement gave a televised speech.
- The term is often used in formal, academic, or journalistic contexts when first introducing or defining the group. Subsequent references typically use the shorter name, Hamas.
- The Islamic Resistance Movement, known widely as Hamas, issued a statement.
- Hamas: The common and most frequently used name for the Islamic Resistance Movement. This is the direct transliteration of the Arabic acronym for the full name.
- Harakat al-Muqāwamah al-ʾIslāmiyyah: The full, formal name of the organization in Arabic.
- Hamas (This is not a synonym but the direct equivalent and more common name).
- Political Movement: It is fundamentally a political organization with a governing structure and social service wings, not merely a militant group.
- Militant Fundamentalist: Its ideology is rooted in a specific interpretation of Islamic principles applied to political and military action.
- Opposition to Israel: Its foundational charter calls for the liberation of all historical Palestine and rejects the existence of the State of Israel.
- Tactical Pioneer: The group is historically noted for extensively deploying and popularizing suicide bombings as a tactic in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- a militant Islamic fundamentalist political movement that opposes peace with Israel and uses terrorism as a weapon; seeks to create an Islamic state in place of Israel; is opposed to the PLO and has become a leading perpetrator of terrorist activity in Israel; pioneered suicide bombing