France Recognizes Palestine as a State, Defying U.S. Pressure

**Hamas** is a Sunni Islamist Palestinian nationalist organization that functions both as a political party and a militant group, primarily operating in the Gaza Strip, which it has governed since 2007. Founded in 1987 by Ahmed Yassin amid the First Intifada, Hamas emerged from the Muslim Brotherhood and initially had covert Israeli support as a counterweight to the secular Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)[3][1]. It combines political governance with an armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, committed to armed resistance against Israel, which it refuses to recognize as a legitimate state[1][3]. Hamas’s political rise culminated in a 2006 electoral victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council, campaigning on anti-corruption and resistance platforms. After violently seizing Gaza from the rival Fatah faction in 2007, Hamas has maintained de facto control there despite international isolation and blockades imposed by Israel and Egypt[3]. Its governance has been marked by repeated conflicts with Israel, including major wars in 2008–09, 2012, 2014, 2021, and the ongoing intense conflict triggered by Hamas’s surprise October 2023 attack killing nearly 1,200 Israelis and taking hostages[1][2][3]. Hamas benefits from regional support, especially from Iran, which supplies funding and weapons, as well as financial and political backing from Turkey and Qatar. These alliances form part of a broader "axis of resistance" against Israel, which includes groups like Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad[2]. Hamas also operates fundraising networks globally, sometimes using charities as fronts to support its military activities[4]. The group is designated a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States, which has increased military aid to Israel following recent escalations[2][6]. Despite modifying its 1988 charter in 2017 to soften some language, Hamas continues to reject Israel’s legitimacy and pursues all forms of resistance[1]. Its enduring political

The United Nations (UN) is a global organization founded in 1945 to promote international peace, security, development, and human rights. It was established following World War II to prevent future conflicts and foster cooperation among nations. The UN Charter was signed in San Francisco, marking the official start of the organization[1][2]. The UN's key roles include peacekeeping, conflict resolution, humanitarian aid, and setting international development agendas. One of its earliest successes was creating peacekeeping missions, such as the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) in 1948, which monitors ceasefires in the Middle East[4]. The UN has also played a vital role in ending conflicts, exemplified by its mission in Sierra Leone, which helped rebuild the country after civil war by restoring governance, security, and social services[3]. A landmark achievement of the UN is the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which set the foundation for modern international human rights law and has been translated into over 500 languages[5]. The UN has also led major global health initiatives, including the eradication of smallpox through coordinated vaccination campaigns in the 1970s[1]. Its development efforts are embodied in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) launched in 2000 and their successor, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015 to tackle poverty, gender equality, public health, and climate change[1][2]. Currently led by Secretary-General António Guterres, the UN continues to focus on diplomacy, effective peacekeeping, and organizational reform to address 21st-century global challenges such as climate change, pandemics, and rising geopolitical tensions[2]. The UN also coordinates 15 specialized agencies that handle issues from economic development to pandemic response[2]. Notably, the UN combines diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and normative leadership to unite 193 member states, symbolizing collective hope for a more peaceful and equitable worl

## Overview The term "European allies" typically refers to the collective network of countries in Europe that cooperate closely on matters of security, economics, and governance, often in partnership with the United States and Canada. While there is no single organization named "European Allies," the most prominent embodiment of this concept is the **North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)**, an intergovernmental military alliance that includes 30 European countries, the United States, and Canada[1]. Additionally, the **European Union (EU)** and the **Council of Europe** represent other key pillars of European cooperation, though their mandates extend beyond security to include economic integration, human rights, and rule of law[3]. ## What the Organization Does NATO operates as a system of collective security, where member states pledge mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party—a principle enshrined in Article 5 of its founding treaty[1]. The alliance conducts joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and crisis response operations. Beyond defense, NATO engages in training missions, counterterrorism, and cyber defense, reflecting its adaptation to modern security challenges. The EU, meanwhile, focuses on economic integration, regulatory harmonization, and fostering a single market, which has profound implications for business and technology across the continent[3]. The Council of Europe promotes democracy, human rights, and legal standards, complementing NATO's security mandate[3]. ## History NATO was established in 1949, in the early years of the Cold War, to counter Soviet influence and ensure the security of Western Europe[1][3]. Its founding members included the US, Canada, and 10 Western European nations. The EU traces its origins to the European Coal and Steel Community (1951) and the Treaty of Rome (1957), which laid the groundwork for economic and political union[3]. The Council of Europe was founded in 1949 to uphold human rights and democratic principles[3]. ## Key Achievements - **