Opps:

Two captured terrorists interviewed by Maariv/NRG say that Hamas was not expecting Israel's response to the escalation in missile attacks on Israeli targets that preceded Operation Cast Lead. One of them, a 52-year-old victim of a premature detonation who had already done time in an Israeli jail, said, "Hamas took a gamble. We thought, at worst Israel will come and do something from the air - something superficial. They'll come in and go out. We never thought that we would reach the point where fear will swallow the heart and the feet will want to flee. You [Israel] are fighting like you fought in '48. What got into you all of a sudden?" The second terrorist, a 21-year-old, said Hamas brought order to Gaza, but also brought fear. He noted that it was dangerous in Gaza for non-Hamas members, citing an instance of his being beaten and another in which he saw a friend killed when he went to get gas. "Now they're all gone," he said. "There have been no Hamasniks in the streets since the start of the campaign."

Except now Israel is getting tangled in international agreements and stuttering ceasefires. Today there was that anti-smuggling understanding with the US that won't work. And tomorrow Israel's cabinet will probably wrap up the whole thing by declaring a unilateral ceasefire. Why unilateral? Because Hamas has made it clear that they won't stop their attacks on Israelis.

Figures.

References:
* "Iranian Unit" Destroyed, Hamas was Suprised [A7]
* US, Israel sign anti-smuggling deal [YNet]
* Defense officials: Truce won't stop smuggling [JPost]
* Cabinet to decide on unilateral ceasefire Saturday evening [JPost]
* Reuters Headline On Israel's Demand For Long-Term Truce: "Israel Rebuffs Temporary Truce" (Plus: Hamas Rejects Truce. Again.) [MR]

Previously:
* Video: Hamas Broadcast Tells Gaza Children To Form Human Shield Around Weapons Cache
* Hamas Taking Limited Losses, Waiting For Obama Inauguration To Negotiate Ceasefire Terms
* No, Of Course Hamas Didn't Accept A Ceasefire