Prolonged ceasefire would be seen as 'net defeat' for Israel, researcher says

As the truce deal between Israel and Hamas started Friday, some wonder whether the temporary ceasefire could be prolonged, leading to an end of the war in Gaza. This, however, seems unlikely, according to the director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs Joseph Bahout. Israel has always focused on eliminating Hamas in its war discourse and "if it stops there ... it would be a net defeat [from Israel's viewpoint] and admittance that the Hamas operation was a political success," Bahout said.