Hamas in no-win situation as Israeli strikes resume

Israel’s renewed attacks on Gaza have put Hamas in a very difficult situation, experts believe, with the Palestinian Islamist movement left with few options.

The group may be now pinning its last hopes on external international pressure being exerted against Israel and internal pressure forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war.

The renewed attacks come with deadlock in indirect talks on the second phase of the January ceasefire, with neither side prepared to budge from its position.

Hamas has yet to respond militarily to the latest Israeli attacks, and said on Wednesday it remained open to negotiations, urging the international community to “take urgent action”.

“Hamas is betting on mediators and internal divisions in Israel” to make the war end, Hamas expert Leila Seurat, a senior lecturer at SciencesPo in Paris, said.