The Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal was just an illusion of progress

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1. **From Daniel R. DePetris, fellow at Defense Priorities and a syndicated foreign affairs columnist at the Chicago Tribune:**

   In the end, the deal was going to last only as long as Netanyahu wanted it to last. And Netanyahu wanted it to last for only so long as he could avoid discussions about a permanent end to the war, something Hamas would never tolerate. Indeed, even before Phase 1 was over, Netanyahu refused to authorize negotiations on Phase 2, a technical violation of the deal he signed weeks earlier. When Phase 1 ended, the Israeli premier tried to extend the truce on the condition that Hamas continue releasing hostages and continue deferring talks on terminating the war. Those conditions were unacceptable to the group, which insisted on Israel implementing the terms of the original ceasefire.  

   The result is what we see playing out now: a bloody outcome that was preordained as long as Israel and Hamas retained irreconcilable positions. Add the fact that Trump didn’t seem particularly interested in protecting the ceasefire he helped push over the finish line — on March 5, he even threatened to blow up the truce himself if Hamas didn’t release all of the remaining hostages — and it’s highly unlikely Netanyahu felt much urgency to stick to terms in the first place. If anything, continuing the fighting would strengthen his political position with the ultra-nationalist parties that are key to the survival of his coalition government.  

   What does the future have in store for a conflict that will cross the year-and-a-half mark early next month? 

   Read more: [https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-trump-rcna197162](https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-trump-rcna197162)

2. Stage 2 was never realistic. It would entail
   Israel leaving Hamas in power in Gaza, facilitating a huge funding / rebuilding programme (Hamas would use all those funds to rebuild damaged tunnels), and leaving the Philadelphi corridor so that Hamas could resume weapon smuggling. Most of the building materials sent in to Gaza would be repurposed to make rockets for firing into Israeli territory, as before. It would be a return to 6 October 2023 and that simply will not happen. Israelis would prefer a forever, low-level war to another Oct 7th.

3. This “delusion” saved the life of 33 people and their families so everyone criticizing the fact the Israel agreed to the first phase is probably looking at the current situation as a video game or Netflix series rather than an incredibly complex real-world situation.

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