Aaron David Miller

I usually default to the negative on this.

But I think, and it's fascinating to consider...

what the first phase actually promises.

It contains, in my judgment, the three basic elements that, in fact, could create a foundation.

And those elements coincide with the reasons, the international community, the region, the United States.

cared about Gaza beginning on October 7.

First, it does address conclusively the issue of the remaining hostages, 20 men alive who have been returned, 28 hostages who are no longer alive.

Only some have been returned.

And that's going to be an issue.

Whether it's a deal breaker, I doubt it.

But it will be an issue.

Hamas has committed itself to locating and returning the bodies.

of 28 hostages.

And remember, out of the 250, one or two that were taken on October 7 by Hamas in this willful and indiscriminate attack against civilians, sexual predation, mutilation, and even the execution of hostages, 130 have been returned through negotiations.

These 48 and then roughly the balance have died in captivity.

It takes the hostage issue off the table.

And once that occurs, it undermines, undercuts the justification.

and even the credibility of Israel's comprehensive military actions in Gaza, what we've seen over the course of the last two years, particularly the large-scale offensives against Rafah, Khan Yunis, and most recently Gaza City.

And it also obviates the need for the massive deployment of Israeli divisions, tens of thousands of Israeli soldiers.

If, in fact, this is correct,