From Palestinian body count, the death toll in Gaza has reached around 500, with about 2,300 wounded. The Israelis reported that there have been four deaths on their side, as well as 60 wounded. From these figures, it can be easy to conclude that the fighting is askew. But while Hamas leaders issue fire and brimstone through hateful rhetoric, Israeli troops have already bisected Gaza and moving their way into Hamas lairs. No calls for ceasefire seem to be heard by either side. Staunchly and steadfastly, amidst dead bodies, Hamas insists for its conditions in a new ceasefire: that Israel stops its fierce assaults, that Israel lifts its longstanding economic embargo of Gaza, and that the Rafah border crossing into Egypt be opened as transshipment point for people and trade.

Staunchly and steadfastly, as well, the Israelis have articulated their conditions for the new ceasefire. This time, the requirements are more stringent. They want control of the crossings into Gaza to end smuggling. This is tantamount to economic blockade. They also require a strict monitoring of ceasefire deal. This is logical but very tricky. Many factors have to be taken into account to actually put this into realization as objectively and scientifically as possible. The toughest condition set by the Israelis on the Hamas is to stop rocket-firing. This can be near to impossible for the Hamas if they want to keep their movement intact. Radical Islamists use firepower to perpetuate their political agenda. Ceasefire agreements and radical Islamists seem to be an oxymoron.

Part of this political agenda is neutralizing suspected Israeli collaborators from the ranks of the Fatah, Hamas’ political rival whom they suspect to be working in cahoots with Israel to bring them down. This move is ultimately destructive to the whole of Palestine. Hamas is killing its own Palestinian people. The reports on Hamas crackdown on Fatah members over the past few days are as follows: 35 killed, 75 “shot in the legs” and “others had their hands broken.” Many Fatah members have also been under ‘house arrest.’ With these developments, Hamas is the last thing that a Palestinian legitimate government should be.

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Via guardian.co.uk