Q&A: What is Hamas?

Bryony Jones, CNN
Updated 1:55 PM EST, Sat November 24, 2012
A boy stands in the rubble of a destroyed shop in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, on Monday, November 26.
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A boy stands in the rubble of a destroyed shop in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza, on Monday, November 26.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian school girls walk in a destroyed class room on Monday, November 26, in Gaza. The school was damaged some days ago, before a truce between Hamas and Israel.
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Palestinian school girls walk in a destroyed class room on Monday, November 26, in Gaza. The school was damaged some days ago, before a truce between Hamas and Israel.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, greets children during a visit to Gaza to survey damage caused by the exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas militants, on Sunday, November 25.
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Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, greets children during a visit to Gaza to survey damage caused by the exchange of fire between Israel and Hamas militants, on Sunday, November 25.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Employees of the Palestinian Interior Ministry pray in the rubble of the Interior Ministry building in Gaza City on Sunday, November 25.
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Employees of the Palestinian Interior Ministry pray in the rubble of the Interior Ministry building in Gaza City on Sunday, November 25.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli soldier fires during clashes with Palestinians after Israeli settlers fought with villagers in the northern West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, November 24.
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An Israeli soldier fires during clashes with Palestinians after Israeli settlers fought with villagers in the northern West Bank village of Qusra on Saturday, November 24.
JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian schoolboys look through a hole at their damaged school in Gaza City on Saturday.
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Palestinian schoolboys look through a hole at their damaged school in Gaza City on Saturday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians school girls walks along a corridor of their school in Gaza City on Saturday.
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Palestinians school girls walks along a corridor of their school in Gaza City on Saturday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian schoolgirl writes on the blackboard of a classroom in Gaza City on Saturday.
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A Palestinian schoolgirl writes on the blackboard of a classroom in Gaza City on Saturday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian youths gesture during a demonstration next to the security fence on the Gaza border with Israel east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Friday, November 23. A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces near the Gaza border, the first casualty since the two sides agreed a truce ending their week-long conflict, Palestinian medical sources said.
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Palestinian youths gesture during a demonstration next to the security fence on the Gaza border with Israel east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Friday, November 23. A Palestinian was shot dead by Israeli forces near the Gaza border, the first casualty since the two sides agreed a truce ending their week-long conflict, Palestinian medical sources said.
SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian boy plays in a demolished car in Gaza City on Friday.
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A Palestinian boy plays in a demolished car in Gaza City on Friday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians inspect the rubble of a destroyed house in Gaza City on Friday.
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Palestinians inspect the rubble of a destroyed house in Gaza City on Friday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians gather to listen to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh speak Thursday in Gaza City. Supporters of Hamas and its moderate rival Palestinian party Fatah displayed rare unity in celebrating the cease-fire.
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Palestinians gather to listen to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh speak Thursday in Gaza City. Supporters of Hamas and its moderate rival Palestinian party Fatah displayed rare unity in celebrating the cease-fire.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Hasidic Jewish boys dance near the border with northern Gaza on Thursday. The Jews provided music on a visit to show their support for the Israeli soldiers.
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Hasidic Jewish boys dance near the border with northern Gaza on Thursday. The Jews provided music on a visit to show their support for the Israeli soldiers.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
A Hasidic Jewish boy dances on the barrel of a tank Thursday as he and others celebrate the Israeli soldiers.
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A Hasidic Jewish boy dances on the barrel of a tank Thursday as he and others celebrate the Israeli soldiers.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh waves to the crowd Thursday in Gaza City. Haniyeh, who heads the governing party of Gaza, said the cease-fire showed the United States had been forced to soften its stance in the region in the wake of the Arab Spring.
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Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh waves to the crowd Thursday in Gaza City. Haniyeh, who heads the governing party of Gaza, said the cease-fire showed the United States had been forced to soften its stance in the region in the wake of the Arab Spring.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians celebrate news of the cease-fire with Israel in Gaza City on Wednesday, November 21.
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Palestinians celebrate news of the cease-fire with Israel in Gaza City on Wednesday, November 21.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli soldiers sit in a restaurant at the Yad Mordechay Junction as they watch Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliver a statement on live television from Jerusalem.
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Israeli soldiers sit in a restaurant at the Yad Mordechay Junction as they watch Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deliver a statement on live television from Jerusalem.
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images
Rockets launch from Gaza City as an explosion is seen on the horizon at Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday.
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Rockets launch from Gaza City as an explosion is seen on the horizon at Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Israeli soldiers pray next to an artillery gun along Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday, November 21. Violence continued in the region Wednesday, leaving hopes of a cease-fire in tatters just hours after a halt in fighting seemed close.
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Israeli soldiers pray next to an artillery gun along Israel's border with Gaza on Wednesday, November 21. Violence continued in the region Wednesday, leaving hopes of a cease-fire in tatters just hours after a halt in fighting seemed close.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Emergency services personnel work at the scene of an explosion on a bus Wednesday in Tel Aviv, Israel. The blast on the public transport bus left at least 22 injured, a hospital official said.
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Emergency services personnel work at the scene of an explosion on a bus Wednesday in Tel Aviv, Israel. The blast on the public transport bus left at least 22 injured, a hospital official said.
Ziv Oren/Getty Images
A woman is helped at the scene by emergency workers Wednesday after the explosion on the bus in Tel Aviv.
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A woman is helped at the scene by emergency workers Wednesday after the explosion on the bus in Tel Aviv.
Ziv Oren/Getty Images
The Ministry of Internal Security compound in Gaza City is in ruins Wednesday after an Israeli airstrike targeted it overnight.
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The Ministry of Internal Security compound in Gaza City is in ruins Wednesday after an Israeli airstrike targeted it overnight.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Smoke billows after Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza on Wednesday.
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Smoke billows after Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza on Wednesday.
SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli soldier sleeps in a deployment area Wednesday on Israel's border with Gaza.
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An Israeli soldier sleeps in a deployment area Wednesday on Israel's border with Gaza.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
A Palestinian pushes his bicycle amid debris Wednesday near the destroyed compound of the Ministry of Internal Security in Gaza City. An Israeli airstrike targeted the building overnight.
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A Palestinian pushes his bicycle amid debris Wednesday near the destroyed compound of the Ministry of Internal Security in Gaza City. An Israeli airstrike targeted the building overnight.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
The Israeli military strikes border tunnels between Egypt and southern Gaza on Tuesday, November 20.
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The Israeli military strikes border tunnels between Egypt and southern Gaza on Tuesday, November 20.
SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli-fired artillery flares illuminate the sky over the southern Israeli border with Gaza Tuesday as fighting continues.
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Israeli-fired artillery flares illuminate the sky over the southern Israeli border with Gaza Tuesday as fighting continues.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met to deliver joint statements in Jerusalem, Tuesday.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met to deliver joint statements in Jerusalem, Tuesday.
Baz Ratner/Pool/Getty Images
Israeli forces fire a shell from the Israel-Gaza border into Gaza on Tuesday.
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Israeli forces fire a shell from the Israel-Gaza border into Gaza on Tuesday.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Men on motorcycles drag the body of man through the streets of Gaza City on Tuesday. The men dragging the body claimed it was the body of a collaborator and an Israeli spy.
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Men on motorcycles drag the body of man through the streets of Gaza City on Tuesday. The men dragging the body claimed it was the body of a collaborator and an Israeli spy.
STR/AFP/Getty Images
Ronit Hakmon reacts to the damage to her home in Beer Sheva, Israel, on Tuesday, after a rocket from Gaza militants hit it.
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Ronit Hakmon reacts to the damage to her home in Beer Sheva, Israel, on Tuesday, after a rocket from Gaza militants hit it.
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian families evacuate their homes following an Israeli airstrike Tuesday in Gaza City. More than 100 Palestinians have been killed in the weeklong attacks, the Gaza Ministry of Health says. Four Israelis have died.
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Palestinian families evacuate their homes following an Israeli airstrike Tuesday in Gaza City. More than 100 Palestinians have been killed in the weeklong attacks, the Gaza Ministry of Health says. Four Israelis have died.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian children stand at the gate of their home Tuesday as they watch a funeral procession for those killed following an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza.
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Palestinian children stand at the gate of their home Tuesday as they watch a funeral procession for those killed following an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian carries a bag of items salvaged from a house destroyed in an Israeli airstrike Tuesday on Gaza City.
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A Palestinian carries a bag of items salvaged from a house destroyed in an Israeli airstrike Tuesday on Gaza City.
MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli soldier reads his morning prayers Tuesday at an Israeli army deployment area near the Israel-Gaza border as they prepare for a potential ground operation in the Palestinian coastal enclave.
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An Israeli soldier reads his morning prayers Tuesday at an Israeli army deployment area near the Israel-Gaza border as they prepare for a potential ground operation in the Palestinian coastal enclave.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian boy walks through the rubble of Hamas commander's house Tuesday in the southern Gaza town of Rafa. An overnight Israeli airstrike targeted the home.
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A Palestinian boy walks through the rubble of Hamas commander's house Tuesday in the southern Gaza town of Rafa. An overnight Israeli airstrike targeted the home.
SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli F-15 takes off from an Israeli air force base on Monday, November 19, on a mission over the Gaza Strip. Israel carried out 80 strikes on Monday, raising to more than 1,300 the number of sites targeted since it began its bombing campaign on Wednesday, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
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An Israeli F-15 takes off from an Israeli air force base on Monday, November 19, on a mission over the Gaza Strip. Israel carried out 80 strikes on Monday, raising to more than 1,300 the number of sites targeted since it began its bombing campaign on Wednesday, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli pilot adjusts a strap as he sits in the cockpit of a jet at an air force base on Monday.
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An Israeli pilot adjusts a strap as he sits in the cockpit of a jet at an air force base on Monday.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian firefighters extinguish a blaze following an Israeli airstrike in a Gaza City tower housing Palestinian and international media on Monday.
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Palestinian firefighters extinguish a blaze following an Israeli airstrike in a Gaza City tower housing Palestinian and international media on Monday.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli girl holds her sister as they take cover in a large concrete pipe used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Monday in Nitzan, Israel.
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An Israeli girl holds her sister as they take cover in a large concrete pipe used as a bomb shelter during a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on Monday in Nitzan, Israel.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Israeli children play in a large concrete pipe used as a bomb shelter on Monday in Nitzan.
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Israeli children play in a large concrete pipe used as a bomb shelter on Monday in Nitzan.
Uriel Sinai/Getty Images
Birzeit University students clash with Israeli soldiers at the Atara checkpoint close to the West Bank university as they protest against Israel's military action on Monday.
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Birzeit University students clash with Israeli soldiers at the Atara checkpoint close to the West Bank university as they protest against Israel's military action on Monday.
ABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Birzeit University students clash with Israeli soldiers on Monday.
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Birzeit University students clash with Israeli soldiers on Monday.
ABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian women mourn during the funeral Monday of members of one family killed when an Israeli missile struck a three-story building in Gaza City on Sunday.
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Palestinian women mourn during the funeral Monday of members of one family killed when an Israeli missile struck a three-story building in Gaza City on Sunday.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli artillery shells hit a target in the Gaza Strip on Monday near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.
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Israeli artillery shells hit a target in the Gaza Strip on Monday near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
An Israeli soldier from a tank squadron attends a morning briefing at an Israeli army deployment area near the Israel-Gaza Strip border on Monday.
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An Israeli soldier from a tank squadron attends a morning briefing at an Israeli army deployment area near the Israel-Gaza Strip border on Monday.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli soldiers from a tank squadron prepare ammunition at an Israeli army deployment area on Monday.
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Israeli soldiers from a tank squadron prepare ammunition at an Israeli army deployment area on Monday.
JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
A paramedic helps a Palestinian woman out of her building, which was damaged during an Israeli air raid on a nearby sporting center in Gaza City on Monday. At least 90 Palestinians, including a family of 10, have been killed, officials say.
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A paramedic helps a Palestinian woman out of her building, which was damaged during an Israeli air raid on a nearby sporting center in Gaza City on Monday. At least 90 Palestinians, including a family of 10, have been killed, officials say.
MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images
A man covers his nose and mouth as he passes burning debris after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Monday.
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A man covers his nose and mouth as he passes burning debris after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Monday.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian man carries a stuffed toy through a street littered with debris after an air raid on a sporting center in Gaza City on Monday.
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A Palestinian man carries a stuffed toy through a street littered with debris after an air raid on a sporting center in Gaza City on Monday.
MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian men gather around a crater caused by an Israeli airstrike at a home in Gaza City on Sunday, November 18.
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Palestinian men gather around a crater caused by an Israeli airstrike at a home in Gaza City on Sunday, November 18.
MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian relatives grieve at the hospital in Gaza City on Sunday, November 18, over family members killed in an airstrike.
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Palestinian relatives grieve at the hospital in Gaza City on Sunday, November 18, over family members killed in an airstrike.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians search the debris of the home following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday, November 18.
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Palestinians search the debris of the home following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday, November 18.
MAHMUD HAMS/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli emergency worker inspects the damage to a car in Ofakim, Israel, that was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on Sunday, November 18.
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An Israeli emergency worker inspects the damage to a car in Ofakim, Israel, that was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on Sunday, November 18.
Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images
Israeli soldiers wait at an Israeli army deployment area near the Israel-Gaza Strip border on Sunday, November 18, as they prepare for a potential ground operation in the Palestinian coastal enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is ready to "significantly escalate" its operation against militants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
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Israeli soldiers wait at an Israeli army deployment area near the Israel-Gaza Strip border on Sunday, November 18, as they prepare for a potential ground operation in the Palestinian coastal enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is ready to "significantly escalate" its operation against militants in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images
Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on an office of Hamas television channel Al-Aqsa in the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Sunday, November 18. Israeli warplanes hit the Gaza City media center and homes in northern Gaza in the early morning.
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Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on an office of Hamas television channel Al-Aqsa in the southern Gaza town of Rafah on Sunday, November 18. Israeli warplanes hit the Gaza City media center and homes in northern Gaza in the early morning.
MOHAMMED ABED/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinian children look at damaged buildings following Israeli air strikes Sunday, November 18, in Rafah.
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Palestinian children look at damaged buildings following Israeli air strikes Sunday, November 18, in Rafah.
SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli soldiers wearing prayer shawls conduct morning prayers Sunday, November 18, at an Israeli army deployment area.
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Israeli soldiers wearing prayer shawls conduct morning prayers Sunday, November 18, at an Israeli army deployment area.
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli soldier from a tank squadron adjusts the tank barrel at an Israeli army deployment area on Sunday, November 18.
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An Israeli soldier from a tank squadron adjusts the tank barrel at an Israeli army deployment area on Sunday, November 18.
MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images
Cloth hangs from a window of a building damaged during Israeli air strikes on Gaza City on Sunday, November 18.
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Cloth hangs from a window of a building damaged during Israeli air strikes on Gaza City on Sunday, November 18.
MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images
A Palestinian demonstrator throws stones in front of the headquarters of the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank city of Jenin on Sunday, November 18, during a protest against Israel's ongoing military operation in Gaza.
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A Palestinian demonstrator throws stones in front of the headquarters of the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank city of Jenin on Sunday, November 18, during a protest against Israel's ongoing military operation in Gaza.
SAIF DAHLAH/AFP/Getty Images
A fireball rises as the Israeli air force carries out a raid over Gaza City on Saturday, November 17.
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A fireball rises as the Israeli air force carries out a raid over Gaza City on Saturday, November 17.
MAJDI FATHI/AFP/Getty Images
An Israeli woman and her children take cover as sirens wail in Tel Aviv on Saturday, November 17.
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An Israeli woman and her children take cover as sirens wail in Tel Aviv on Saturday, November 17.
OREN ZIV/AFP/Getty Images
Palestinians walk amid the debris of a burning factory near the house of Ezzedine Haddad, commander of the armed wing of the Hamas movement, after it was destroyed during an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on Saturday, November 17.
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Palestinians walk amid the debris of a burning factory nea