Defense sources: Even if Hamas agrees to truce, its armed wing may resist

[Fozzledick]

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and News Agencies

Israel's defense establishment believes that Hamas' armed wing is likely to resist any cease-fire agreement over the embattled Gaza Strip, regardless of what the Islamist group's political leadership decides.

Hamas, which comprises a military wing, as well as political leaderships in Gaza and Syria, does not make decisions as a unified body. Rather, the organization' separate branches hold their own discussions.Israel's security forces assess that Hamas' armed wing will push for an extension of the battles in Gaza, despite the serious casualties and damages to its infrastructure that it has suffered since Israel's offensive on the Gaza Strip began 12 days ago.

According to this assessment, Hamas' armed wing will not accept the Egyptian and French brokered truce proposal, which calls for an end to the smuggling of weapons and militants from Sinai.

In the past, the group's armed wing has been subservient to the political leadership in Gaza and Damascus, but recent power shifts within the organization have changed that dynamic.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053511.html

[GoesTo11]

1. See? Hamas is willing to compromise.

Part of it might agree to a truce, part of it won't. Splitting the difference, as it were.

[GSPowner]

2. and history will likely repeat itself...

if the military wing does not stop and fall in line with the political wing Israel will not stop...and honestly why should they. It would be great if they do but time will tell.

[Vegasaurus]

3. The Hamas militant wing (such as it were, different from the political?)

has always made its goals known.

No truce.
No peace.
Annihilate Israel and reclaim all of "greater Palestine".

I believe them.

[GoesTo11]

4. How about if Israel's political wing agrees to a truce but not its military

ridiculous