Hostilities in the Middle East escalated over the weekend as rockets targeting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were launched by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
While Israeli forces intend to only target the terrorist infrastructure in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, increasing attacks may bring Israel to launch its first ground invasion there in four years.
Rashid Khalidi, professor of modern Arab studies at Columbia University, discusses the structure of Hamas and their economic, social, and political role in Gaza. Noel King is a freelance reporter in Cairo.