Hamas announces 6-month truce with Israel

[Deckard]

Now I don't want to sound overly-cynical, but whenever I hear those phrases "Hamas announces truce" or "Hamas announces ceasefire", it always seems to be followed (within days) by some kind of Israeli assault, resulting in said 'truce' in shreds.

Am I suggesting deliberate coercion by elements within Israel to keep Hamas as the enemy? No, not at all. I'd want more to go on before arriving at that conclusion.

However... (!) I have to be honest and admit, it's been a pattern I've noticed enough times as to warrant me posting my concerns here, so let's just see what happens. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong this time. And if I am, I'll take note of it.

(In the interest of balance, I would add that whenever sensitive negotiations are taking place between the two sides, these are similarly sabotaged by elements of the Palestinian side. But then we all knew that anyway.)