It’s a radical break from prevailing narratives, but I think Hamas’s strategic objective from the outset was to escalate the conflict enough to prevent Iran from signing the nuclear deal (if Hamas did want the deal, they could’ve easily waited a few weeks). Hamas is pursuing a one-state solution, and that requires an international Arab intervention to destroy Israel. At present, the most likely agent is a nuclear Iran. Hamas wants to keep their plight in the spotlight so Iran doesn’t move that pursuit to the back burner.
(Netanyahu also doesn’t want Iran to sign the deal, but for the opposite reason that he thinks the sanctions will crush Iran + legitimize military actions).
Protecting al quds was just a convenient justification they used to win support in the Arab world.
In the beginning, they thought large barrages on Tel Aviv would draw Israeli infantry in, and when that appeared imminent they also wanted to use up the stockpile before it would be seized in the ground invasion. However, once it was evident the missiles are causing much less damage than expected and Israel is trying to refrain from entering, they switched to the opposite tactic of attrition. Israel may be willing to to turn a blind eye to a few days with hundreds of rockets, but it can’t turn a blind eye to hundreds of days with few rockets in all the major cities, and gradually international pressure will force Israel to ease the air strikes, that are running out of targets anyways.
I find it hard to believe Hamas didn’t anticipate this degree Israeli response, I believe they were ready for it (no qualms with dying, and the economic damage will be repaid with interest) and are still taunting Israel for a full and long ground invasion. Iran may be only a few months away from a nuclear weapon.
The test will be if there is a prolonged cease fire or not. I don’t think there will be).
https://twitter.com/jtruzmah/status/1394797289135173633?
