Israel has formally declared war on Hamas, the militant Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, following the groups attack on soldiers and civilians in Israel on Saturday.

But what (or who) is Hamas, how did it come to the position it is currently in, and why has there been an increase in fighting in the region? Dr Mariam Farida, Lecturer in Terrorism Studies in the Department of Security Studies and Criminology at Macquarie University, joins Antoinette Lattouf to take us back to basics.

Headlines:

Hamas attacking the Israeli city of Ashkelon 

United Nations Secretary General describes the situation in Israel as dire

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese moved to tears during Uluru ceremony 
 

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