But for Israel, a desire for peace and demands for a ceasefire are far from synonymous. But international calls for a ceasefire put Israel on a tricky timeline despite its recent military successes in Gaza, including its killing of high-level Hamas commanders and multi-front advances toward the group’s alleged headquarters. Israeli officials, for their part, say they’ve already been implementing localized pauses as they secure evacuation routes for Gazans fleeing south. But Israeli officials fear prolonged delays in the offensive could allow Hamas to regroup and rearm. As the IDF advances on the densely populated Gaza City from all sides, civilian and combatant death tolls are sure to increase—and, along with them, calls for an immediate ceasefire.

Source: New York Times November 14, 2023 20:47 UTC