Hamas is likely to seek to extend its truce with Israel for another six months, Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip predicted Thursday. The current six-month truce, brokered by Egypt, expires in December. A senior Hamas official told Haaretz that the Islamic group has not yet made a decision on extending the truce.

"To date, Israel has not met its commitments regarding the transit of merchandise to the strip," he said. "Our focus [in talks] with Egypt is currently the issue of reconciliation with Fatah, but it is not inconceivable that the issue of the cease-fire could come up for discussion. If Israel meets its commitments, Hamas will seek to continue the truce."

But other sources in Gaza predicted that Hamas would seek to extend the truce even if Israel does not reopen the border crossings completely, to give it more time to consolidate both its rule in the strip and its political challenge to Fatah. As evidence, they noted that it had recently muted its complaints against Israel over arrests of its operatives in the West Bank - though in part, that is because such arrests are increasingly being carried out by the Palestinian Authority rather than Israel.

They added that Hamas has no interest in opening a front with Israel as long as its relationship with Fatah remains unsettled.