HAVING WON:

Hamas hints at ceasefire as the Palestinians vote (Conal Urquhart, January 9, 2005, Observer)

As Palestinians go to the polls today to elect a successor to Yasser Arafat, senior members of Hamas have revealed to The Observer that a long-term ceasefire may well follow. [...]

It marks a turning point in Hamas's strategy. After four years of leading violence against Israel, it now plans to concentrate on politics. Leaders will be seeking guarantees that they will not be hunted down by Israeli security forces and that incursions into Gaza by the Israeli army will end. There has also been a change in the rhetoric of Hamas supporters to a more conciliatory tone.