which may look like a wise move -- but what sort of organization will rise up in place of Hamas?
As a general rule -- the replacement group will be far more radical.
My reasoning for this is that Hezbolla evolved after the last invasion and occupation of Lebanon -- and Hamas evolved with help from Israel to replace the PLO. Eventually Hamas became more radical of the two organizations (PLO & Hamas) -- and Israel has been trying to kill over the leadership.
The snip from the linked article below gives a bit of history -- worth the read in the context of unfolding events in the region.
Israel's partners now are in its prisons. And this is the paradox. Just when it becomes critical to draw a distinction between the street gangs and some kind of responsible leadership, Israel is barking up the wrong tree. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/736010.html It is interesting to see almost text book social organization and political science happening on a world stage -- I studied this stuff in the 70s. And since then not a whole lot has changed -- the same damed players. The weapons are worse -- but the stupidity of the leaders seems to be the same from generation to generation.