Is Hamas a terrorist group? Some people are not going to like my answer but semantics matter. The definition of a terrorist group is:

A terrorist group is a political movement that uses terror as a weapon to achieve its goals. Synonyms of terrorist group include: 

• FTO
• Foreign terrorist organization
• Terrorist organization

A group can be considered a terrorist group if it: 

• Is from another country
• Engages in terrorist acts
• Has the ability and intent to engage in terrorism

The United Nations Security Council defines terrorist acts as: 

• Criminal acts
• Committed against civilians
• With the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury
• Taking of hostages
• With the purpose to provoke a state of terror

Terrorism can take the form of: 

• Explosive devices
• Active shooter incidents
• Biological, chemical, radiological/nuclear, or cyber attacks

Some types of terrorism include: 

Criminal, Psychic, War, Political, Revolutionary, Subrevolutionary, Establishment.

For the purpose of Executive Order 13268, “terrorism” is defined to be an activity that (1) involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure; and (2) appears to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, kidnapping, or hostage-taking.

Since Hamas is the political ruling party in Gaza and seems to be separate of the West Bank in political decision making, then no… Hamas is not a terrorist “group” but fall under the heading of a Terrorist State but that’s a matter of opinion that needs a consensus of the international community.

While some might disagree, it’s actually better for Israel that they are recognized not as a Terrorist “Group” but as a foreign country that invaded another country or even as a Terrorist State. In a war, civilian casualties are expected. In a terrorist attack by a group, there is no need for civilians to be killed even though it will happen when sympathizers of the Terrorist Group try and shield them or are forced to shield them. So they’re not a Terrorist Group but a Terrorist State, due to their remarks, that allows for Israel to protect themselves.

Obviously this is a personal opinion and I do not condone the killing of civilians in any situation but until countries find a way to have Iron Man capabilities, this is the unfortunate consequence. This is also what happens when a terrorist group, that’s a group of people that do not rule politically, are allowed to become a terrorist state, when they force the populous to vote for them and then eliminate voting altogether and they become the governing body of that country or state, and then decide to invade another country. Civilians get hurt and uncivil reverberations spread to other countries as people take sides.