Ceasefire question remains: Will Israel end war without destruction of Hamas?

Israeli soldiers stand near their vehicles, displaying t-shirts calling for the return of hostages, on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing (AP)

Hamas is considering the latest proposal for a ceasefire with Israel that the United States and other mediators hope will avert an Israeli attack on the Gaza town of Rafah.

But the chances of a deal are entangled with the question of whether Israel can accept an end to the war without reaching its stated goal of destroying Hamas.