The ceasefire that Israel and Hamas agreed to in January has essentially ended. Israel has increased its military operations in Gaza since March 18. Israel said the assault is meant to pressure Hamas to release all hostages. Since then, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands displaced, Palestinian officials say.

The second was Israel’s history of decision-making, particularly when it comes to Palestinians: Phased deals don’t usually work. Case in point is the phased, conditional Oslo peace process during the 1990s that Palestinians saw as a path to an eventual Palestinian state and a permanent end to the conflict, neither of which materialized.

The Israeli government faces mounting pressure from within and abroad as it considers deeper involvement in Gaza following renewed fighting and hostage negotiations. The Israeli m