In light of the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel, it’s important to review the Hamas ideology and understand how Hamas views the conflict.

Hamas ideology, as expressed in the Hamas Charter, sees Hamas as part of the worldwide Muslim Brotherhood (Article 2) that seeks world Islamic domination. Israel is said to exist on territory that is Islamic Waqf (Article 11) and therefore Islam demands that Israel be destroyed. Accepting Israel's existence is a violation of Islamic law (Article 13).

The Hamas charter presents the killing of Jews as God's will, and the inevitable extermination of Jews as coinciding with the "Hour of Resurrection" (Article 7). The charter expresses eagerness to participate in and promote this killing of Jews: "Hamas has been looking forward to implement Allah's promise [killing Jews] whatever time it might take" (Article 7). Finally, violence and terror (called "resistance") are presented as legitimate tools.

All of these principles continue to be stated regularly by Hamas leadership and in the official Hamas media throughout May 2007.

Part 1: Islamic supremacy over the world
Part 2: Destruction of Israel
Part 3: Demonization and extermination of Jews
Part 4: Promoting terror, suicide terror, and violence...