Analysis: Hamas desperate for lull

[Fozzledick]

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

As the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip entered its 10th day, Hamas has begun sending conflicting messages regarding its intentions.

These contradictory messages, Palestinian political analysts said, reflected the state of confusion in Hamas and raised questions as to who was calling the shots in the Gaza Strip.

While some Hamas leaders have been openly signaling their readiness to accept a new cease-fire, others are still calling for pursuing the fight against Israel "until victory."

What is clear is that Hamas is now desperate for a lull in the fighting. But it is also eager to score some kind of a "military victory" before a cease-fire is reached.

...

Another Ramallah-based political analyst said that the political leadership of Hamas has given the movement's armed wing, Izaddin al-Kassam, full freedom to take any measures it deems necessary to prevent the collapse of the Hamas regime.

"The gunmen on the streets are now in charge," he noted. "This is a dangerous situation, because they don't report to anyone at the top. This has created a state of anarchy and confusion."

Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip said on Monday that the general feeling was that Hamas does not exist any longer as a governing body. "All their government institutions have been destroyed," said a Gaza City reporter. "The Hamas leaders are now behaving like al-Qaida's Osama bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri. Their only public appearances are through recorded messages aired on Arab TV stations."

...

Sources close to Hamas said that in light of the new reality, where the Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip have virtually vanished, the armed wing was receiving its instructions from the movement's leadership in Syria.

The sources said that Mashaal, the Damascus-based leader of Hamas, was in direct contact with commanders of Izzadin Kassam in different parts of the Gaza Strip. "There's a vacuum in the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip," they said. "The Hamas leaders in Damascus are now in charge. There's no one to talk to in the Gaza Strip."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231167266919&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[aquart]

1. Enough dead kids for the publicity blitz?

Good to know.

[High Plains]

4. Enough dead kids for the Israel politicians?

That would be good to know.

How does the body count/vote calculus play out? Only 100 dead kids, points for Bibi? More than 100 dead kids, points for Tzipi?

[Adsos Letter]

2. I wonder who is calling for a fight to the death....

those inside Gaza, or those safely tucked away in Syria?

[Chulanowa]

3. The ones sitting in Damascus and Tel Aviv, of course

Fuck the men, polish the brass.