Hamas Recruitment Day

On Shaky Ground
Though some Hamas officers are rumored to belong to a secret militant wing called the Iss al-Din Qassim Brigades, the official role of Hamas security forces is to maintain law and order in the Gaza Strip. Many residents of Gaza say the territory has gotten safer since the Islamist group took control, following months of internal conflict and instability while Hamas and Fatah vied for power. Israel and the U.S. consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

• Gaza Digs Out