What we have on an international scale is a weakling attacking a bully, then running for parental protection so the weakling can attack the bully at another opportunity. Indeed, every ceasefire imposed on Israel gives Hamas time to rearm with more and better weapons. In the along run, it might be best to let the weakling and bully fight it out. Perhaps they need to be left alone to wage war until they both want peace.

If the international community is going to impose something on Israel, let it impose a model long proposed by many, to make a Palestinian state in the West Bank an attractive alternative to the self-inflicted dysfunctionality of Hamas. Even acting alone, the US should impose conditions on all forms of aid to Israel, first and foremost, the dismantling of the settlements. The US should pressure Israel to make a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank, like its similar withdrawal from Gaza. Finally, the US should work to make Jerusalem a UN protectorate under US governance.