Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni Islamist political and military organization that governs the Gaza Strip of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. It was founded in 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian cleric who became an activist in local branches of the Muslim Brotherhood. Hamas has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. The groups attacks, including suicide bombings against civilian targets and indiscriminate rocket attacks, have led many countries and academics to designate Hamas a terrorist organization. Hamas has struggled to govern Gaza and remains committed to violently resisting Israel. The groups charter calls for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in historic Palestine. Hamas seized power in Gaza in 2007 and presents itself as an alternative to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Hamas leaders established a presence in Qatar after falling out with their previous host, Syria, when Palestinian refugees participated in the 2011 uprising that preceded the Syrian Civil War. The group has received backing from Arab countries, such as Qatar and Turkey, and has moved closer to Iran and its allies in recent years.