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| A Part of Hamas Negotiates, and Another May Fight Again | A Part of Hamas Negotiates, and Another May Fight Again |
| (21 days later) | |
| CAIRO — Battered by a month of Israeli assaults on its fighters, rockets and tunnels, the militant Palestinian group Hamas is turning its attention to surviving the peace. | |
| As both sides prepare for talks about extending a three-day truce, Israel is coming to the negotiating table emboldened to demand that Hamas surrender its weapons completely — what Israel calls the “demilitarization” of Hamas’s stronghold, Gaza. Without disarmament, Israel says, it will not ease its blockade of the territory. | As both sides prepare for talks about extending a three-day truce, Israel is coming to the negotiating table emboldened to demand that Hamas surrender its weapons completely — what Israel calls the “demilitarization” of Hamas’s stronghold, Gaza. Without disarmament, Israel says, it will not ease its blockade of the territory. |
| Egypt, the broker of the talks and once a friendly face to Hamas, has now joined Israel in pushing to cripple the militant group. It favors putting Gaza under the control of a unified Palestinian government formed by a recent deal between Hamas and its secular rival faction, Fatah, in the hope that the new government could disarm Hamas. | Egypt, the broker of the talks and once a friendly face to Hamas, has now joined Israel in pushing to cripple the militant group. It favors putting Gaza under the control of a unified Palestinian government formed by a recent deal between Hamas and its secular rival faction, Fatah, in the hope that the new government could disarm Hamas. |
| But Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas political leader, said during an interview in Cairo that Hamas would still come out ahead. He said the group welcomed the new coalition government but would keep its military wing distinct — and allow it to prepare for another potential war with Israel. | But Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas political leader, said during an interview in Cairo that Hamas would still come out ahead. He said the group welcomed the new coalition government but would keep its military wing distinct — and allow it to prepare for another potential war with Israel. |
| The Hamas brigades “are completely separate,” Mr. Abu Marzook said. | The Hamas brigades “are completely separate,” Mr. Abu Marzook said. |
| Hamas’s civilian, political wing had put itself under the government, he said, and its political leaders continued to speak and set policy for the military wing. But he insisted that the Hamas fighters would remain outside the new government’s control. “Of course, they are outside the unity government,” he said. | Hamas’s civilian, political wing had put itself under the government, he said, and its political leaders continued to speak and set policy for the military wing. But he insisted that the Hamas fighters would remain outside the new government’s control. “Of course, they are outside the unity government,” he said. |
| Even though both Israel and Egypt want the newly formed Palestinian “unity” government to defang Hamas and its military wing, called the Qassam Brigades, “they can’t get that,” Mr. Abu Marzook said. “It is as simple as that, like the way that Israel wants to destroy Qassam, and they haven’t done that, right?” | Even though both Israel and Egypt want the newly formed Palestinian “unity” government to defang Hamas and its military wing, called the Qassam Brigades, “they can’t get that,” Mr. Abu Marzook said. “It is as simple as that, like the way that Israel wants to destroy Qassam, and they haven’t done that, right?” |
| Analysts said the split Mr. Abu Marzook described — with Hamas’s political leaders standing behind the new government, while its military wing stays independent — might be the group’s only hope for preserving some military clout while also getting some relief from the blockade for Gaza’s residents. | Analysts said the split Mr. Abu Marzook described — with Hamas’s political leaders standing behind the new government, while its military wing stays independent — might be the group’s only hope for preserving some military clout while also getting some relief from the blockade for Gaza’s residents. |
| Both Israel and Egypt, its two neighbors, have made clear that they are unwilling to loosen the border restrictions significantly as long as Hamas is looking across from the other side. But ostensible control of Gaza by the new reconciliation government — which has renounced violence, recognized Israel and embraced the peace process — could be more palatable. | Both Israel and Egypt, its two neighbors, have made clear that they are unwilling to loosen the border restrictions significantly as long as Hamas is looking across from the other side. But ostensible control of Gaza by the new reconciliation government — which has renounced violence, recognized Israel and embraced the peace process — could be more palatable. |
| But if Hamas succeeds in keeping its Qassam Brigades independent and viable, that would appear to portend new clashes with Israel. It could also mean clashes with the new Palestinian government’s internal security forces, which would jostle with the brigades for control of Gaza. | But if Hamas succeeds in keeping its Qassam Brigades independent and viable, that would appear to portend new clashes with Israel. It could also mean clashes with the new Palestinian government’s internal security forces, which would jostle with the brigades for control of Gaza. |
| The military-civilian distinction within Hamas “is the only way toward a cease-fire” for the group, said Nathan Thrall, an analyst who studies Gaza for the International Crisis Group. But “it definitely injects an element of volatility,” he said. | The military-civilian distinction within Hamas “is the only way toward a cease-fire” for the group, said Nathan Thrall, an analyst who studies Gaza for the International Crisis Group. But “it definitely injects an element of volatility,” he said. |
| Indeed, Mr. Abu Marzook insisted that Hamas’s brigades would be ready for the next round. “We don’t like to see any fighting,” Mr. Abu Marzook said, but “we know how to make our resistance each time better than the previous time.” | Indeed, Mr. Abu Marzook insisted that Hamas’s brigades would be ready for the next round. “We don’t like to see any fighting,” Mr. Abu Marzook said, but “we know how to make our resistance each time better than the previous time.” |
| Hamas’s fighters, weapons and tactics, he said, have grown more effective during each successive battle with Israel. Its fighters this year killed more than 60 Israeli soldiers, tunneled into Israel to stage ambushes there and fired rockets far enough to menace the Tel Aviv airport — all unexpected demonstrations of Hamas’s increased ability to harass the far-superior Israeli force. | Hamas’s fighters, weapons and tactics, he said, have grown more effective during each successive battle with Israel. Its fighters this year killed more than 60 Israeli soldiers, tunneled into Israel to stage ambushes there and fired rockets far enough to menace the Tel Aviv airport — all unexpected demonstrations of Hamas’s increased ability to harass the far-superior Israeli force. |
| But the new pressures brought on Hamas were readily visible around Mr. Abu Marzook. Under Egypt’s former Islamist government, ideologically allied with Hamas, Mr. Abu Marzook entertained journalists in a spacious office on the outskirts of Cairo. | But the new pressures brought on Hamas were readily visible around Mr. Abu Marzook. Under Egypt’s former Islamist government, ideologically allied with Hamas, Mr. Abu Marzook entertained journalists in a spacious office on the outskirts of Cairo. |
| But since the ouster of Egypt’s Islamist president, the new government has turned intensely hostile toward Hamas, and Mr. Abu Marzook is no longer so free. | But since the ouster of Egypt’s Islamist president, the new government has turned intensely hostile toward Hamas, and Mr. Abu Marzook is no longer so free. |
| Wearing a dark suit and open collar, Mr. Abu Marzook entered a hotel lobby trailed by competing teams of Hamas bodyguards and Egyptian secret police. The police barred him from holding meetings in the privacy of a suite and demanded the identification of journalists interviewing him. The Hamas guards positioned him far from windows, with his back to the wall. | Wearing a dark suit and open collar, Mr. Abu Marzook entered a hotel lobby trailed by competing teams of Hamas bodyguards and Egyptian secret police. The police barred him from holding meetings in the privacy of a suite and demanded the identification of journalists interviewing him. The Hamas guards positioned him far from windows, with his back to the wall. |
| He said that Egypt’s close monitoring of his communications limited his contact with others in Hamas; he said he had no direct contact with its military leaders. | He said that Egypt’s close monitoring of his communications limited his contact with others in Hamas; he said he had no direct contact with its military leaders. |
| In addition to the loss of its allies in Cairo, Hamas is still working to repair its relationship with Iran, which has provided critical support. Their relations chilled after Hamas pulled its political headquarters from Syria and sided with the Sunni Islamist-led uprising against Iran’s allies in the Syrian government. | In addition to the loss of its allies in Cairo, Hamas is still working to repair its relationship with Iran, which has provided critical support. Their relations chilled after Hamas pulled its political headquarters from Syria and sided with the Sunni Islamist-led uprising against Iran’s allies in the Syrian government. |
| The efforts of President Hassan Rouhani of Iran to improve relations with the United States, or at least to obtain a deal to roll back sanctions over its nuclear program, appeared to have slowed the easing of tensions with Hamas, Mr. Abu Marzook said, adding, “He wants to solve the problems with the West.” | The efforts of President Hassan Rouhani of Iran to improve relations with the United States, or at least to obtain a deal to roll back sanctions over its nuclear program, appeared to have slowed the easing of tensions with Hamas, Mr. Abu Marzook said, adding, “He wants to solve the problems with the West.” |
| Still, after more than 1,600 Palestinian deaths in Gaza from the Israeli attacks over the last month, Mr. Abu Marzook said Tuesday that Hamas had won a victory just by surviving and argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel had failed to achieve any of his goals. Mr. Abu Marzook said Hamas had gained popularity, remained able to fire rockets at Israel, and could re-establish its network of tunnels under Gaza. | Still, after more than 1,600 Palestinian deaths in Gaza from the Israeli attacks over the last month, Mr. Abu Marzook said Tuesday that Hamas had won a victory just by surviving and argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel had failed to achieve any of his goals. Mr. Abu Marzook said Hamas had gained popularity, remained able to fire rockets at Israel, and could re-establish its network of tunnels under Gaza. |
| For agreeing to the cease-fire, he argued that Hamas should receive relief from the blockade on its territory. “The Palestinians should gain something out of these battles,” he said. “They want the siege to end; they want all the gates to open.” | For agreeing to the cease-fire, he argued that Hamas should receive relief from the blockade on its territory. “The Palestinians should gain something out of these battles,” he said. “They want the siege to end; they want all the gates to open.” |
| That is a nonstarter with Israel and Egypt while Hamas controls Gaza, but Mr. Abu Marzook said Hamas was prepared for the unified government to take over, including assuming responsibility in Gaza for security and the borders. | That is a nonstarter with Israel and Egypt while Hamas controls Gaza, but Mr. Abu Marzook said Hamas was prepared for the unified government to take over, including assuming responsibility in Gaza for security and the borders. |
| He acknowledged that some tensions remained. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, controlled by Fatah, have parallel payrolls of employees to run Gaza. | He acknowledged that some tensions remained. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, controlled by Fatah, have parallel payrolls of employees to run Gaza. |
| “Two people on one chair is very difficult,” Mr. Abu Marzook said. “Now it is our duty to resolve this problem and make a real unity Palestinian government.” | “Two people on one chair is very difficult,” Mr. Abu Marzook said. “Now it is our duty to resolve this problem and make a real unity Palestinian government.” |
| But he brushed off past concerns within Hamas about the possibility that the loyal presidential guard of its chief rival, Fatah’s leader, Mahmoud Abbas, might take positions in Gaza. | But he brushed off past concerns within Hamas about the possibility that the loyal presidential guard of its chief rival, Fatah’s leader, Mahmoud Abbas, might take positions in Gaza. |
| “We will not make any problem when they take over responsibility there,” he said of the new government’s security forces. | “We will not make any problem when they take over responsibility there,” he said of the new government’s security forces. |
| As for Hamas’s own fighters, Mr. Abu Marzook insisted that he could still speak for them despite their nominal independence, as he said he had done in negotiating the cease-fire. | As for Hamas’s own fighters, Mr. Abu Marzook insisted that he could still speak for them despite their nominal independence, as he said he had done in negotiating the cease-fire. |
| “I sent a message to our civilian people in Gaza, and they transferred that to Qassam, who said, ‘O.K.,’ and they put their fire down,” Mr. Abu Marzook said. “They listen to me as the one who is in charge of the political position,” he added. “It is one organization with two wings or two departments, if you want clarification.” | “I sent a message to our civilian people in Gaza, and they transferred that to Qassam, who said, ‘O.K.,’ and they put their fire down,” Mr. Abu Marzook said. “They listen to me as the one who is in charge of the political position,” he added. “It is one organization with two wings or two departments, if you want clarification.” |