what does hamas want

Hamas says it wants to liberate Palestine , end Israeli control over Palestinian territories, and secure a Palestinian state, with older charter language rejecting Israel’s existence altogether, while later statements have at times accepted a state on the 1967 borders as a political position.

Quick scoop

In plain terms, Hamas has two big layers of goals:

• Political goal: a Palestinian state in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, often described as based on the June 4, 1967 lines.

• Ideological goal: resistance to Zionism and, in its founding charter, the destruction of Israel; that older language is much more extreme than some later public statements.

Why people describe it differently

Different sources emphasize different parts of Hamas because the group has evolved over time. The 1988 covenant used hardline religious and anti-Israel language, while a 2017 political document and later interviews framed Hamas more as a Palestinian nationalist movement focused on liberation and statehood.

In practice

Hamas also wants:

• Control or major influence in Gaza and Palestinian politics.

• Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories.

• The right of return for Palestinian refugees , which remains one of the most disputed issues in any settlement.

Bottom line

If you want the shortest answer: Hamas wants Palestinian liberation and statehood, but its stated aims have also included rejecting Israel’s legitimacy, especially in its founding ideology.