Hamas is awaiting developments. As far as it is concerned, the “border operation” it mounted this week against Israel with tens of thousands of Gaza residents storming the fence was successful; the eyes of the world are directed once again at the Gaza Strip after a long hiatus of disinterest.

Hamas is seeking, obviously, to end the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza in 2007, and it is operating in accordance with a familiar modus operandi honed over more than a decade. The first stage is to put out feelers to see whether Israel is willing to discuss a long-term cease-fire. When Israel turns them down, Hamas launches a second, violent stage, in a bid to bring Israel to the negotiating table to discuss a deal it failed to achieve with its initial, conciliatory moves.

Following the 2007 coup by Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas military arm, and its ousting of the Fatah movement that had ruled the Gaza Strip, Hamas was left with responsibility for the lives of Gaza’s residents, who currently number some 2 million. Then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected Hamas proposals for a cease-fire in return for an opening of the border crossings. At that point, Hamas began lobbing rockets at Israel in a bid to draw Israel into Egyptian-mediated negotiations, promising a truce in return for an easing of the blockade.

This went on for 10 years. Each round of violence with Gaza, including three major military operations codenamed Cast Lead in December 2008, Pillar of Defense in November 2012 and Protective Edge in July 2014, ended in short negotiating sessions in Cairo. Hamas was not interested merely in a cessation of hostilities; it was offering a truce in return for a relaxation of the blockade. The organization wanted to present the Palestinians with a significant achievement justifying the heavy price paid by Gazans.