Opaline. If, as you state, Hamas has made overtures 'off the...

Opaline. If, as you state, Hamas has made overtures 'off the record' how do you know that such overtures have actually been made?

I know that it takes 'two to tango' but my understanding is that the Israelis have given Hamas plenty of opportunities to negotiate a settlement but they can't do it with the duress of being 'under the barrel of a gun'.