Yes, an interesting article. I guess the problem with terrorist groups is that they evolve. For example, if we look at the IRA it became the Provisional IRA, and now a new breakaway group, is the Free IRA (and I realise Hamas are different to the IRA). The other thing we don't know is whether Israeli intelligence has had back channels to Hamas (I believe the UK government did at one time with the IRA) and if something has changed to disrupt those; possibly the Israeli coalition government now including some extreme right wingers? I don't know, but surely something must have sparked a change in attitude or loss of trust?
Anyway, I think the sad thing is that I believe the loss of life in Gaza and probably of the remaining hostages will be to no avail. I can't see how Netanyahu's plan will work. Senior and influencial Hamas leaders are in Qatar and Egypt - they are involved in negotiations - while one images others are in arab states such as the Lebanon. The action in Gaza will not remove those and, in time, whatever happens in the immediate future it seems likely that they will regroup and recruit youngsters in Gaza who have seen friends and families decimated, and perhaps been injured themselves? Let's hope I'm proved wrong but it looks like the scene is set for several more decades of conflict?