There’s one thing standing in the way of a ceasefire: Netanyahu’s refusal to compromise | Simon Tisdall

The Israeli PM has rejected the latest deal. Both he and Hamas's leadership must stop playing politics with people's lives

The latest twists and turns in negotiations to end the war in Gaza appear labyrinthine and confusing. But it's really not that complicated. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, must compromise on the outstanding details of the proposed ceasefire deal and Hamas's weekend counter-offer - and immediately halt Israel's criminal bombing of Gaza and reckless military incursions into refugee-populated areas around Rafah.

For its part, Hamas must honour previous understandings about the staged release of Israeli hostages and cease its crude, last-minute haggling, especially about exactly how many Palestinian detainees, and which ones, are freed in return. Its priority should be alleviating the plight of Gaza's civilians, not scoring points. Its demands that Israel agree a permanent" end to the war at this stage were always unrealistic.

Simon Tisdall is the Observer's foreign affairs commentator

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