Has the war on Hamas in Gaza started to produce results?  The AP seems to think it has, at least in driving a wedge between Hamas factions.  Hamas leadership in Damascus wants no part of any realistic plan for a cease-fire, while Hamas in Gaza seems ready to capitulate:

Signs of sharp division are appearing within the top ranks of Hamas as fighting with Israel in Gaza intensifies and cease-fire talks brokered by Egypt reach a critical point.

The differences have sharpened over the past two days and could have a significant impact on the outcome of the truce negotiations.

Gaza-based Hamas officials have sounded more willing in recent days to consider a deal for a temporary cease-fire, being pushed by Egypt, even though the proposal would leave Israeli troops on the ground in Gaza temporarily and keep the territory’s borders sealed in the short term. But Hamas political officials, close to the group’s leadership-in-exile in Syria, have characterized a cease-fire as still far away. …

But a top Hamas spokesman in Syria, Moussa Abu Marzouk, told The Associated Press on Thursday that Hamas would not abandon its demand that Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza and open border crossings before any cease-fire, even a temporary one, could take effect.

Another top Hamas figure linked to the leadership in Syria, Osama Hamdan, said late Wednesday that Hamas had not agreed to some points of the Egyptian plan.

Khaled Mashaal in Damascus has a different set of priorities.  He has to worry about Iranian threats to cut off funding if Hamas quits fighting Israel in Gaza.  Tehran wants Israel pinned down so that they will not follow through on their threats to target Iranian nuclear installations, for which they have apparent support from the outgoing Bush administration in the US.  If Hamas can’t do that, then they’re worthless to Iran.

Hamas in Gaza has more pressing concerns — like breathing.  The IDF has succeeded in dismantling their power structure in Gaza, and now they are pressing into the heart of Gaza City to eliminate them altogether.  They need relief from the attack that they themselves provoked, and the Gaza leadership wants Egypt to provide them a face-saving (and life-saving) exit from the war.

Israel has to maintain the pressure on Hamas at this point.  A cease-fire will only allow them to regroup with their Syrian leadership and Iranian proxies.  They’ve already caused a great deal of destruction in Gaza, which they will eventually have to do again if Hamas isn’t stopped now.  They seem to be winning this conflict, and Hamas in Gaza knows it.