General information
Type of Incompatibility: Not applicable
Date of first battle related death: 1990-12-14
Date of conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1994-05-28
Comment on conflict reached 25 battle releated deaths: Hamas first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 1994, when the one-sided violence resulted in more than 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached in late May of that year following a spate of lethal suicide bombings.
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1990
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 3 |
| Best | 3 |
| Low | 3 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1991
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 1 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1992
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 6 |
| Best | 5 |
| Low | 5 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1993
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 10 |
| Best | 10 |
| Low | 10 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1994
Primary Parties: Hamas - Civilians
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 56 |
| Best | 54 |
| Low | 54 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1995
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 13 |
| Best | 13 |
| Low | 13 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1996
Primary Parties: Hamas - Civilians
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 59 |
| Best | 44 |
| Low | 44 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1997
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 24 |
| Best | 24 |
| Low | 24 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1998
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 1 |
| Best | 1 |
| Low | 1 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
1999
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2000
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 5 |
| Best | 3 |
| Low | 3 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2001
Primary Parties: Hamas - Civilians
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 57 |
| Best | 55 |
| Low | 54 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2002
Primary Parties: Hamas - Civilians
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 145 |
| Best | 145 |
| Low | 145 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2003
Primary Parties: Hamas - Civilians
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 84 |
| Best | 79 |
| Low | 79 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2004
Primary Parties: Hamas - Civilians
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 46 |
| Best | 35 |
| Low | 35 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2005
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2006
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 3 |
| Best | 3 |
| Low | 3 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2007
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 8 |
| Best | 5 |
| Low | 5 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2008
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 8 |
| Best | 8 |
| Low | 8 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2009
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 10 |
| Best | 10 |
| Low | 10 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2010
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 9 |
| Best | 9 |
| Low | 9 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2013
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2014
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 5 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2015
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 2 |
| Best | 2 |
| Low | 2 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2016
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 3 |
| Best | 3 |
| Low | 3 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2018
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 3 |
| Best | 3 |
| Low | 3 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2021
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2022
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2023
Primary Parties: Hamas - Civilians
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 678 |
| Best | 673 |
| Low | 673 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2024
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
2025
Primary Parties: -
Dimension: One-sided
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 0 |
| Best | 0 |
| Low | 0 |
Numbers include fatalities for all dyads both active and inactive for this year
Conflict Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1990 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1991 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1992 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1993 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1994 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: Hamas’ one-sided killings first reached 25 deaths on 17 May 1994; soon after settler Baruch Goldstein had perpetrated the Tomb of Patriarchs massacre (in Hebron) in February the same year. Several suicide bombings followed as retaliation for the massacre, as well as shootings of settlers and other civilians. In an incident on 17 May Hamas claimed responsibility for shooting and killing two settlers in a drive-by near Hebron. In a statement released after the shooting Hamas vowed to retaliate any attacks by soldiers or settlers on Palestinian civilians, such as the ones killed and wounded in the Hebron massacre and the protests that erupted after it. The bulk of deaths in 1994 came as a result of Hamas suicide bombings in Israel proper. Other significant numbers of dead can be attributed to the killings of alleged government informers, and the shootings of Israeli settlers.
Terminated: NO
1995 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1996 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: After a year of relative calm in 1995 Hamas launched yet more suicide bombings against Israeli civilians in 1996. The attacks shattered Arafat’s and the PLO’s efforts to define a role within the areas of Palestinian self-rule for Hamas, and signalled yet again Hamas’ reluctance to accept the peace agreements signed by Fatah and the PLO. The most severe suicide attacks took place against public buses in Jerusalem and Ashkelon, inside Israel proper, and make up the bulk of the civilian casualties for this year.
Terminated: NO
1997 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1998 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
1999 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2000 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2001 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: Following on the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority in 1995, and the subsequent crackdown on Islamic militants not aligned to the PLO, Hamas’ activities saw a notable decline between 1997 and 2000. As the final status negotiations for an independent Israel failed in 2000, what is commonly referred to as the Second Intifada began in the occupied territories, in response to the disillusionment of the Palestinians in relation to peace with Israel. Hamas also stepped up its activities against Israel and once again became an active warring party as well as an active one-sided violence actor, in an attempt to scuttle the legitimacy of the PNA and any further negotiations. As in previous years of Hamas activity the majority of the killings committed by Hamas are suicide bombings against civilian infrastructure (restaurants, public transport etc) in urban centres in Israel proper. Settlers were also targeted in shootings.
Terminated: NO
2002 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: The Second Intifada continued into 2002, and the suicide bombings reached an all-time peak since the founding of Hamas. Violence grew in a vicious circle, perpetuated by Hamas’ suicide bombings and militant attacks on Israeli targets, and Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) counterattacks, such as Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank and incursions into Palestinian refugee camps. The violence against civilians was, in Hamas’ view, the natural continuation of their struggle by all means against Israel and aimed at carrying forward their political message of the necessity of destroying Israel and the heresy of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. The strategy was made more easily executable by widespread turmoil in the occupied territories caused by the Intifada.
The majority of violence against civilians carried out by Hamas in 2002 was suicide bombings against vulnerable targets in urban settings, such as public transport, cafés and restaurants. Hamas militants also infiltrated Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, and killed civilians in shooting attacks. One especially notable suicide attack against civilians was the bombing of a hotel in Netanya, in which an estimated 30 people were killed. That attack is sometimes referred to as the ‘Passover Massacre’, and was the deadliest suicide attack since Hamas’ inception. The year 2002 also saw the first large-scale use of Qassam rockets against Israeli settlements.
Terminated: NO
2003 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2003 Hamas continued its campaign of suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. Effective Israeli counter terrorism activities are sometimes held as one explanation for the decrease in Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians during 2003. The violence continued to be related to the Second Intifada, and also to the renewed presence of Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) troops that followed on Israeli incursions in 2001 and 2002. Attacks on civilians were often carried out in the name of retaliation for Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories. As Fatah reached a ceasefire agreement with Israel in June, which contained a resumption of security duties by the PNA’s security forces, Hamas also proclaimed its own truce the same month. Hamas however renewed armed attacks and suicide bombings against Israel in retaliation for perceived Israeli breaches of the unilateral ceasefire.
The majority of one-sided killings committed by Hamas were in the form of suicide bombings against Israeli urban centres. The killings followed the pattern established from the beginning of the Second Intifada, with bombers attacking targets where crowds would gather, such as cafés, restaurants, bus stops and public transports. Shooting attacks against settlements and settlers also reaped some civilian casualties.
Terminated: NO
2004 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: Hamas’ violence against civilians, mostly Israeli civilians, continued during 2004. The intensity of the violence was however lower than in 2002 and 2003, in part explained by Abbas’ (Fatah) increased control over the Palestinian territories, the preparation by the Israeli Defence Forces for a withdrawal from some parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the continuing construction of the ‘security wall’ between the West Bank and Israel proper, which complicated militant action into Israel. Some would also claim that the decrease in Hamas’ attacks on civilians were caused by effective Israeli counter-terrorism moves, such as targeted killings and the denying of sanctuaries in reoccupied areas, since the peak of suicide bombings in 2002. Whilst the number of suicide attacks diminished in 2004, attacks on settlements in the Palestinian areas continued approximately as intensely (in terms of casualties) as in 2001-2003, and Qassam rocket and mortar fire increased manifold. Qassam rockets and mortar fire were however not as effective against civilians as were suicide bombings.
Despite the decrease in suicide attacks during the year such attacks claimed the majority of casualties, being perpetrated against public transports. The bulk of other casualties were claimed mainly by rocket and mortar attacks aimed at Israeli settlements, primarily in the Gaza Strip.
Terminated: NO
2005 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2006 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2007 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2008 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2009 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2010 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2013 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2014 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2015 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2016 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2018 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2021 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2022 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2023 Conflict Archive
Comment on Activity: In 2023, Hamas was an active perpetrator of one-sided violence in Israel. Most notably, during the attacks on October 7, Hamas forces deliberately targeted hundreds of Israeli civilians through large-scale killings, abductions, and other acts of violence, resulting in significant civilian casualties.
Terminated: NO
2024 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
2025 Conflict Archive
Terminated: NO
