Long may it hold

摘要

After five weeks of almost relentless death and destruction, the ceasefire signed on August 26th offers a modicum of relief to Gaza's 1.8m Palestinians. Having lost at least 2,100 people, most of them civilians and many of them children, they now hope for a period of calm. Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the enclave, has promised to stop firing rockets at Israel. In return, Israel says it will stop bombing the place. Most crucially for the Gazans, the blockade imposed for seven years by Israel should gradually be lifted. The two sides have agreed to uphold the ceasefire for a month, after which it will-with luck-be extended as serious negotiations for a broader deal get going.