Are we all Hamas now? The siege of Gaza and the Israel-Palestine conflict

Following the failure of Hamas to renew a truce with Israel on 19 December, hostilities have escalated to the point of an Israeli Defence Forces bombing and ground offensive. Open gun battles in Gaza have worsened an already dire humanitarian situation brought on by the blockade of the Strip. Shimon Peres claims to be ‘teaching Hamas a lesson’; but what is the wider meaning of this offensive, especially in light of the 2005 pull-out of Gaza and impact of the summer 2006 Lebanon war?

Is this just another, albeit particularly bloody, flare-up between Israel and the Palestinians or does this mark a new phase in the conflict and what are the prospects for resolution?
What are Hamas’ aims and what explains their popularity – in Gaza and beyond?
Is Israel motivated by a Zionist, expansionist ideology or by narrower security concerns?
What hope is there for a two-, one-, or no-state solution?
What does the ‘taking sides’ in the conflict over here reveal about imperialism and anti-imperialism today?