For the leaders of both Hamas and Israel, ending the war in Gaza has become a deadly game of survival. Mr Netanyahu needs to keep his long-term options open, to stand a chance of winning their support for any initial hostage deal. Hamas leaders, on the other hand, are likely to want permanent ceasefire guarantees upfront. Mr Netanyahu talked over the weekend about the destruction of Hamas’s “military and governing capabilities” and ensuring that the group no longer posed a threat to Israel. But there are clear splits emerging between Hamas leaders inside and outside Gaza.

Source: The Star June 04, 2024 13:42 UTC