On August 18, Hamas accepted a new cease-fire proposal for the war in Gaza. The deal, which had just been presented by Egypt and Qatar and closely echoed earlier proposals shaped by the United States that Israel had backed without approving, called for the release of ten of the remaining 20 living Israeli captives in exchange for a 60-day truce. Unlike previous such proposals, Hamas did not request any changes to the document and accepted it within hours. So far, Israel has not accepted the