Assuming that Hamas will ultimately accept the Egyptian proposal for a ceasefire, even if with minor adjustments and guaranteed by an external party, the question arises whether conditions for a ceasefire and new understandings are indeed sufficiently ripe. The end mechanisms of the current conflict and the ultimate arrangement are meant to promote the strategic goals of both sides. Israel chose to mark Hamas as the responsible party in the Gaza Strip, while conducting a sustained effort to weaken it but without eliminating its rule. For its part, Hamas’ goal was to reposition itself as a powerful actor capable of controlling the Gaza Strip, and to enhance its stature in Egyptian and Israeli eyes.
