There is no victory, only relief, in this Gaza deal

Both sides will insist they’ve won. That’s a Middle East classic in war. But the truth is less flattering: militarily, diplomatically and strategically, Israel is weaker and Hamas is in survival mode. Two years and two days after the Hamas attacks of October 7, the region has spent lives and resources only for the war to end up exactly where it was always headed, back to the table, with arguments over timetables and logistics. The ceasefire deal agreed in Sharm El Sheikh potentially charts a critical path toward regional stability, creating space for a broader, more comprehensive agreement – one that could eventually draw in all the long-standing power players, including Iran.