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Is Hamas starting to comprehend the consequences of firing rockets at Israel?

NY Times:

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel said Sunday that he had given the military free rein to act against Palestinian factions firing rockets at Israel. Hours later, the militant group Hamas announced that it was halting all attacks from the Gaza Strip.

The surprise statement by Hamas, delivered late Sunday night in Gaza City by a senior Hamas leader, Dr. Mahmoud Zahar, offered the possibility that the violence of the past three days could be brought to a halt.

The region had been relatively calm in recent weeks, but a major confrontation loomed after Hamas began firing rockets from northern Gaza into southern Israel on Friday night, and Israel responded with airstrikes.

"There are no restrictions on the use of any measure in order to strike at the terrorists," Mr. Sharon said Sunday morning at his weekly cabinet meeting. "This phenomenon must be stopped."

On Sunday night, an Israeli airstrike killed an Islamic Jihad leader, Muhammad Khalil, and another member of the faction as their car traveled along a coastal road in Gaza City. Earlier Sunday, about 20 Palestinians, including women and children, were wounded in strikes against facilities suspected of being used by Hamas, including a school.

But late Sunday night, Dr. Zahar said Hamas "declares an end to its operations from the Gaza Strip against the Israeli occupation." He also said Hamas would abide by a pledge that several Palestinian factions made early this year for a temporary suspension of attacks against Israel.

As long as Hamas describes Israel's existence as an occupation, Israel should continue its destruction. By declaring that Israel itself is occupied Palestinian territory, Hamas gives its game away.