Hamas leaders at odds over 'cease fire'

The split between Hamas' leadership in Gaza and its political leaders in Qatar that manifested itself during Operation Protective Edge is continuing (Hat Tip: Honest Reporting).

Unlike the Gaza leader and former Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Mashaal has not welcomed the cease-fire and according to some reports he has been telling his associates that the cease-fire underscored a colossal failure on the part of Hamas. Mashaal's deputy, Moussa Abu Marzouk, who is close to the Egyptian regime, has sided with Haniyeh in the ongoing internal feud.

Only several thousand Palestinians attended a Hamas rally celebrating the cease-fire on Wednesday, a significant drop compared to the celebration following other rounds of hostilities. "The Palestinian resistance, its courage and determination surprised the Zionist occupation forces," Haniyeh told the Gazan crowds. "No words can truly capture the scope of the victory; it is beyond time and space," he continued. "This campaign is not like any war we have seen in this conflict with our enemy," he said.

This was the first time Haniyeh appeared in public in more than 50 days, having chosen to lay low during Operation Protective Edge. According to unverified reports, Haniyeh was admitted to a Gaza hospital on Wednesday.

A senior Gazan official told the Arab media outlets Wednesday that in light of significant damage to schools, there was a real possibility that the start of the school year would be delayed. He said many schools had been damaged and those that have remained in tact were now occupied by displaced Gazans. A senior Palestinian official told Israel Hayom on Tuesday that it would take at least 10 to 15 years to rebuild the Gaza Strip.

The rumor is that Haniyeh had a heart attack and is back in Shifa where he's been for the last seven weeks. Poetic justice.