Ceasefire opportunity

After 22 months of relentless bloodshed in Gaza, Hamas has accepted a ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar, opening what may be the first real window in months for an end to the carnage. The deal, which promises a 60-day truce and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, among other things, carries the seeds of both respite and a potential path toward a lasting peace. The responsibility now lies squarely on Israel to accept it.

Yet, if history is any guide, skepticism is warranted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made no secret of his refusal to end the war until Hamas is "defeated and disarmed." His insistence on indefinite military control over Gaza and thinly-veiled plans for the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians — widely seen as forcible displacement — undermine any hope that Israel is prepared to negotiate in good faith.

Ceasefires, in Israel's playbook, have too often been treated as tactical pauses rather than steps toward peace. Humanitarian aid is allowed in only after international pressure mounts. Prisoner exchanges are used as bargaining chips rather than reconciliatory gestures. And promises of de-escalation give way to renewed offensives the moment political expediency demands it. It is not surprising, then, that the global community views Israel's potential acceptance of this deal with deep suspicion. This is where the global community must step in. If this cycle is to end, the world must make it clear that continued intransigence will carry serious consequences.

The ceasefire proposal is not perfect, nor is it likely to resolve the deep wounds of decades-long conflict. But it represents a lifeline in a war that has cost the Palestinians dearly. To spurn it would be to send a global message that Israel values military dominance over genuine peace. Israel must be pressed to act.