Israel-Hamas understanding key to quick end to Gaza fighting
Egypt-Qatar mediation brought about what Israel was seeking — a quick end to the violent conflict with Islamic Jihad.
The decision by Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip, to sit out Israel’s three-day pounding of Islamic Jihad this past weekend did not come as a surprise. Not to the Israeli military brass in Tel Aviv, not to the politicians and diplomats in Jerusalem, nor to officials in Cairo and Doha. Are Israel and Hamas approaching a “hudna” (Arabic for cease-fire)? Do these two sworn enemies intend to turn their unofficial relationship into a temporary or permanent arrangement?
Al-Monitor put this question to a senior military source in the aftermath of Israel’s Aug. 5-7 operation — codenamed “Breaking Dawn" — against Islamic Jihad in Gaza. The answer was nothing short of amazing.
