No hope in Gaza

Hordes of Gazans flocked to the streets of Gaza on Tuesday to celebrate the cease-fire deal that was struck between Hamas and Israel. One can empathize with their sentiments, their jubilation over the restoration of peace and quiet in the Gaza Strip after 50 days of fighting left a disaster the likes of which had never been seen in Gaza before.

The Gazans who reveled in the streets Tuesday understand that Gaza isn't going anywhere. As long as Hamas continues to be in power, Gaza doesn't have much in the way of hope -- no construction of a seaport, no inauguration of an airport, no rehabilitation of the wrecked economy. At most, they can expect Hamas' arsenal of rockets to be restocked.

Hamas leaders see what's around them, they hear the voices on the street and they understand that their first challenge is making sure the Gazan volcano doesn't erupt in their faces. After all, the deal Hamas reached on Tuesday was also offered to them within the first few days of fighting. They are going to have to explain to Gazans why they chose 50 days of war without being able to claim any tangible sort of victory.

Another challenge that awaits Hamas is the consolidation of its leadership, which has been fractured, ripped apart. Hamas' military wing, which always had a certain weight over the group, lost many of its commanders. A chasm ruptured between Hamas' political factions in the Gaza Strip and in Qatar. It will need to be bridged. Khaled Mashaal probably prefers to stay in the comforts of his Doha suite, his Qatari refuge -- but his controlling the group will be difficult from there. Mashaal, like the Qatari emirs, will very possibly come to realize Hamas' losses following the Gaza war.

The last challenge facing Hamas is how to elude the Israeli-Egyptian position, which was joined by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Only time will tell whether this cease-fire is merely a lull until the next round of violence or whether Hamas will actually think twice before violating yet another deal in the foreseeable future. What is certain is that Gazans were left without a future, gaping at series of promises -- a seaport and an airport -- scribbled on a piece of paper.

טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו