Escalation doesn't serve future Hamas interests

The Hamas movement, having been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007, is struggling to keep its control on the territory to achieve its ideological interest, which is establishing the first ever typical Islamic regime in the Arab World.

"I don't believe that Hamas is interested in any further escalation because the current circumstances can never serve the interests of both Hamas and any other groups, who are still rehabilitating the consequences of the last Israeli offensive on Gaza 20 months ago," said Mustafa Sawaf, en expert on Hamas affairs.

He told Xinhua that "the Israeli enemy is seeking to use the AL Committee's decision of resuming the direct talks with Israel to escape from making any commitment and also to strengthen the escalation of military actions against the Palestinian groups of resistance."

Hamas leaders called on Abbas and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to immediately stop all security coordination with Israel in the West Bank, halt the U.S.-sponsored four-month proximity talks and not to go for any direct talks because "this would encourage Israel to continue its aggressive actions."

Chances for direct talks slim

It is not only the militant groups, who rebuff the resumption of the direct peace talks with Israel, but also Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party insists that despite the AL Committee's decision to go for direct talks, the Palestinians won' t go for any talks before having certain U.S. guarantees.

Khalil Shahin, another political analyst from the West Bank told Xinhua that the AL Committee's decision left a narrow margin of maneuver for the PNA, adding "the decision throws the ball at the Palestinian playground and increases the pressure on it to go to the talks."

"I believe that the chances for going to the direct talks are slim, because there is a Palestinian consensus not to go to direct talks, while Abbas and his Fatah party know well that going to direct talks with Israel without any U.S. or Israeli guarantees, would be like committing a political suicide," Shahin said.

Before going to any direct or indirect talks, the Palestinians insist that ending the current political feuds and rifts between Fatah and Hamas, reconciling and regaining back the Palestinian unity would be the best recipe for empowering the political Palestinian position.