Hamas hopes to convert Gaza's humanitarian crisis into Israeli concessions in negotiations

The depressing ritual took place again this week, as it has almost every week in the past two months. This time, in midweek, it looked like good news had arrived from Washington. The White House announced that Steve Witkoff, the special Mideast envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, would leave for "the region" soon to move ahead with a hostage deal. Two days later it turned out to be a lot of hot air.

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