As officials report that a deal has been agreed, a precarious pause in hostilities and the release of hostages could only be welcomedHope has rarely felt so fragile, or so inadequate. A moment long sought and prayed for will nonetheless be met with fear and apprehension as well as joy by Palestinians in the wasteland that is Gaza and among the traumatised families of Israeli hostages.After more than 15 months of war, which has left tens of thousands dead and almost 2 million struggling to survive, US officials and others reported that a ceasefire and hostage-release deal has been reached. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said there were still “unresolved clauses”, though his cabinet was expected to vote on it on Thursday morning. They should back it. The broad outlines of this agreement have long been clear. The cost of the delay is unbearable. Since it was first mooted, thousands more Palestinians and an unknown number of Israeli hostages taken in the Hamas...
The main idea of the editorial is that while a ceasefire in Gaza is desperately needed and welcome news, it has arrived far too late.
The 15+ months of war have caused immense suffering and death, with the cost of the ceasefire delay being unbearable. The editorial urges the Israeli cabinet to approve the deal, despite some unresolved clauses, highlighting the urgency for a pause in the conflict and the release of hostages.
The main idea of the editorial is that while a ceasefire in Gaza is desperately needed and welcome news, it has arrived far too late. The 15+ months of war have caused immense suffering and death, with the cost of the ceasefire delay being unbearable. The editorial urges the Israeli cabinet to approve the deal, despite some unresolved clauses, highlighting the urgency for a pause in the conflict and the release of hostages.
