The relief I’ll feel if the Gaza ceasefire deal holds is tempered by rage. Because it could have happened so much sooner | Jonathan Freedland

Israel and Hamas have agreed a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between the two sides.

It is a phased deal, which means it could fall apart at any moment.

The plan is for Hamas to release 33 of the captives it or its allies have held since 7 October 2023 over a period of seven weeks , mostly in groups of three or four every seven days.

The Palestinian death toll in May stood at roughly 36,000 , and now it is closer to 47,000 .

In other words, 11,000 people are dead who would be alive, had the deal been agreed eight months ago .

Neither Hamas nor Netanyahu cared about those people.

But Israelis should wonder about a leader who talks endlessly of his supposed patriotism.