A Long Road

Even with all the joy over the release of the hostages, the action, which had been postponed several times, demonstrates how much pressure is needed from players like the U.S. to make even minor progress in Israel’s war against Hamas.

As justified as the joy over the release of the hostages and Palestinian prisoners may be, and as much as Palestinian civilians are using the cease-fire as a respite, the action, which had been postponed several times, is just as much a testament to how much pressure from players like the U.S. and how much patience among the negotiating parties is necessary for even minor progress for hostages and civilians.

All of this provides a preview of how difficult it will be to get more hostages freed or to establish another cease-fire, let alone achieve anything more. The Israeli administration of Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that after the cease-fire, it will continue pursuing its goal of destroying Hamas. The same intention applies to the jihadists who want to erase Israel from the map.

Those who continue advocating for hostage releases or even the end of the conflict will need a lot of stamina. At present, the road ahead appears to be long, the obstacles unconquerable. There is great mistrust and antipathy on both sides, and there is a shortage of ideas and personalities that could quell the conflict. But the conflicting parties should continue to be reminded of that goal from the outside.