Hamas: Truce a "Tactic in Conducting the Struggle"

Here's an article from the website of the Information Office of the Al-Qassam Brigades from April 27, 2008. The article discusses the possibility of Hamas agreeing to the ceasefire that the Egyptians eventually brokered, and that ended shortly before the latest round of fighting. [Extract in blue; bolding in mine; text verbatim]

Sheikh Khaled Mashaal, the head of the political bureau, said Saturday that the Islamic resistance movement Hamas accept an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire with Zionist entity, at the same time Mashaal stressed that it would be a "tactic" In the Hamas's struggle with the Zionist state.

Mashaal said in an interview with al-Jazeera television that Egypt had proposed a six-month truce between the Palestinian side and Zionist entity in Gaza as a first step. He said that Hamas is ready to both cases truce or war but added:

"It is a tactic in conducting the struggle. ... It is normal for any resistance that operates in its people's interest ... to sometimes escalate, other times retreat a bit...the battle is to be run this way and Hamas is known for that," he said. "In 2003, there was a cease-fire and then the operations were resumed and so on."

Mashaal said that Hamas is still waiting for Zionist entity's official response to the Egyptian truce offer. During a press interview with Al Aqsa TV, Dr Mahmud Al Zahhar said Hamas is refusing any a written commitment with Zionist entity.