US Warns of Imminent Hamas Attack Amid Gaza Ceasefire Tensions

The **U.S. Department of State** is the federal government's lead agency responsible for U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy. Established in 1789 as the first executive department, it serves as the principal arm through which the U.S. conducts international relations, negotiates treaties, represents American interests abroad, and protects U.S. citizens traveling or living overseas[2][3][6]. Headquartered in the Harry S Truman Building in Washington, D.C., the department is led by the Secretary of State, who acts as the President's chief foreign policy advisor and is the highest-ranking cabinet official in diplomatic matters[2][4]. The Department's mission is to promote U.S. security, economic prosperity, and democratic values worldwide through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance programs. It works to foster peace and stability in regions critical to U.S. interests, open foreign markets to American businesses, advance human rights, and address global challenges such as climate change, terrorism, and pandemics[1][4][7]. It operates American embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions in nearly every country, making it a vital actor in global affairs[5]. A notable partner within the Department's foreign engagement is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), established in 1961 to administer economic and humanitarian aid. USAID focuses on ending extreme poverty, strengthening democracies, improving health, food security, and environmental sustainability in developing nations while supporting U.S. security and prosperity goals[1]. In recent years, the Department has expanded professional exchange programs, such as the Professional Fellows Program, which brings international leaders to the U.S. to build partnerships and share expertise[2]. The Department's budget in fiscal year 2024 was approximately $38.8 billion, reflecting increased investment in diplomatic and development efforts[3]. Overall, the State Department remains a cornerstone of U.S. engagement with the world, adapting to technological advances and shifting geopolitical landscapes to safeguard American interests an

**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