In his inimitable way, Bibi made this agreement possible by consistently demonstrating to Hamas that obtaining freedom for the few remaining hostages was not an overriding priority. Hamas consequently recognized that the hostages provided little leverage and acted accordingly.
But Phase One, while welcome, is the easy part. Will Hamas actually agree to disarm and to let foreigners run what’s left of Gaza without interference? Will the extreme right-wingers agree to an end to the war without a commitment by Bibi to utterly annihilate the tiny remnant of Hamas and facilitate Israeli settlement in Gaza? We’ll see. I have my doubts.