The current round of fighting between the Israel Defense Forces and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement , or Hamas , in Gaza has been raging for over three weeks . In some ways , Gaza conflict fits pattern of earlier clashes , but this one is different . Rick Francona says Israel seems determined to render Hamas militarily ineffective . This could be true in the short term, as they are not able to mount any kind of sustained offensive against Hamas. Francona : Netanyahu seems fixed on idea of neutralizing Hamas ' tunnels .
In some ways , Gaza conflict fits pattern of earlier clashes , but this one is different . Rick Francona says Israel seems determined to render Hamas militarily ineffective . This could be true in the short term, as they are not able to mount any kind of sustained offensive against Hamas. Francona : Netanyahu seems fixed on idea of neutralizing Hamas ' tunnels .