West reacts warily to Hamas victory Western powers have warned that they will not deal with a Hamas-led Palestinian government unless it renounces violence and recognises Israel's right to exist.
Israel in shock over Hamas victory Israel is in shock over the likely Palestinian electoral victory of the Islamist group Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis and advocates the destruction of the Jewish state.
Iran has congratulated the Islamist Palestinian group Hamas for its election victory and praised voters for choosing "to continue the struggle and resistance against occupation".
The European Commission, reacting to an apparent victory by the Hamas movement in Palestinian parliamentary elections, has said it would work with any government that used peaceful means.
Marwan al-Barghuthi, the jailed Palestinian leader, has extended a hand to Hamas and called for all parties to join in a broad national coalition after the Palestinian election this week.
Hamas, the most powerful Islamist group in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, will be running neck and neck with the ruling Fatah party in next week's legislative elections.
The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have rejected a resolution by the US House of Representatives that would make American aid conditional on the exclusion of Hamas from parliamentary elections in January.
Ismail Haniya, the top Hamas chief candidate, voting in Gaza
The Israeli army is cracking down on civil servants and community leaders, including elected local government officials, throughout the West Bank, in what some believe to be an attempt to force Hamas out of forthcoming Palestinian elections.
Israel has said that a victory for Hamas in Palestinian parliamentary elections would set the region back 50 years, but Palestinians say any move to stop the resistance group from running would be undemocratic.
A record number of women - including the wives and widows of notable political figures - will take up seats in the Palestinian parliament after legislative elections in January.
Thousands of Hamas supporters have celebrated the group's 18th anniversary in a mass rally in Gaza City, and its spokesman said that tough Israeli policies had only increased its popularity.
The leader of Hamas in its Gaza Strip stronghold says he does not rule out future negotiations between the group and Israel, in an unusual interview with Israeli radio.
Here's a look at what the Hamas victory could mean for Palestinian relations, Mideast peacemaking and Palestinian politics.
Hamas: The new political forceFollowing its shock victory in Palestinian elections Hamas looks set to be involved in democratic government for the first time.
The main issues Some of the main issues surrounding the Palestinian elections.
Hosam al-Taweel, 40, is a Christian candidate running on the electoral ticket of Islamic resistance group Hamas in Gaza, in the upcoming Palestinian parliamentary elections.
In addition to Fatah and Hamas, who have been dominating the Palestinian political arena, myriad newly formed political groups are contesting the Palestinian legislative elections scheduled for 25 January.
Ariel Sharon's sudden exit has created a storm of uncertainty in Israeli politics and will probably affect Palestinian legislative elections later this month.
Mahmoud Khalid al-Zahar is a prominent leader in the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and one of its remaining founders. Many of the organisation's key players have been assassinated by the Israeli occupation army.