By acquiescing in the Egyptian-brokered truce, Israel avoids for now heavy casualties of an all-out incursion into Gaza to cripple Hamas and stop the rockets that have disrupted life in southern Israel. But at the same time, it may be handing the militant movement a victory in the form of a halt to devastating Israeli military operations – six militants were killed in strikes yesterday – and the beginnings of an Israeli lifting of the economic blockade on Gaza, tightened a year ago after Hamas seized power from president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah.

The aim of the blockade was to cripple or topple Hamas. This has not been achieved, yet some easing – it is not quite clear how much – is about to take place. This could boost Hamas's standing among the long-suffering civilian population.

Hamas has for the first time accepted Israel's insistence that a ceasefire would have to apply to the West Bank as well as Gaza. Other militant factions have also agreed to lay down arms.

Palestinian sources say the Israeli-run crossings into Gaza, Karni and Sufa will step up operations three days after the ceasefire takes effect, with the flow of goods rising to 30 per cent of the levels before Hamas took control of Gaza. A week later, Israel would further ease strictures at Karni and Sufa, said the Palestinian source. Hamas expects the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt to be reopened. But it is questionable how far Israel will go with the easing-up without significant progress towards the release of its captured soldier, Cpl Gilad Shalit.

Israeli army intelligence officials have been quoted as terming any truce "temporary" and "fragile". Indeed, it is possible that some of the Israeli support for the ceasefire is premised on being able to show the international community and Israeli citizens that the government tried everything before ordering the all-out invasion of the Strip.

Another source of Hamas satisfaction came yesterday in the arrival in Gaza of representatives of Mr Abbas. It was not clear if this portended a reconciliation, but the president had previously ruled out contacts with the militants.