Who is Hamas, the militant group that has launched an attack on Israel

In a major escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, at least 100 Israelis and 200 Palestinians were killed after Hamas militants launched a multi-front attack on Israel. The attack involved firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating the heavily fortified border. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Israel was “at war” and called for a mass mobilization of army reserves. Hamas, a Palestinian political and military organization, governs the Gaza Strip and is known for its armed resistance to Israel. The conflict has resulted in ongoing hostilities between Hamas and Israel.