What is Hamas? Who supports Hamas?

In the past, many German media outlets have referred to Hamas as a radical Islamist organization. Most recently, however, as Israel-Gaza fighting flares up again, media have referred to Hamas as an Islamist terror group. Hamas does not recognize Israel’s right to exist. Its emblem depicts the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, and the outline of the territory of Israel, Gaza and the West Bank as a single Palestinian state. Hamas has continued its war against Israel from within the Gaza Strip, claiming it is acting in “self-defense.” The organization engaged in heavy fighting against Israel’s armed forces in 2008/09, 2012 and 2014

Qatar is Hamas’ most important financial backer and foreign ally. Qatari Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was the first state leader to visit the Hamas government in 2012. So far, the emirate has transferred €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) to Hamas. For many years, Hamas relied on Iran-supplied rockets.