Leaders | The Middle East

Gaza could become “Mogadishu on the Med”

Even if there is a ceasefire, its prospects are grim

People inspect a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Al-Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on July 15th 2024
Photograph: Marwan Dawood/Xinhua/Eyevine

The war in Gaza is in a new phase. The fighting is tapering down, although Israel is still conducting air strikes against Hamas. One of these on July 13th may have killed the military mastermind behind the October 7th attacks, Muhammad Deif, as well as scores of fighters and civilians. Ceasefire talks continue in Qatar and Cairo, with signs that Hamas is prepared to agree to a temporary truce and a swap of hostages and prisoners, without first demanding a permanent Israeli withdrawal.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Mogadishu on the Med”

From the July 20th 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

Discover more

A man waves the Lebanese flag from a car as displaced people return home, in Sidon, Lebanon on November 27th 2024

Peace in Lebanon is just a start

Donald Trump must build on Joe Biden’s belated success

A group of protesters burn pictures Donald Trump and Joe Biden in 2020

From Nixon to China, to Trump to Tehran

Iran is weak. For America’s next president that creates an opportunity


This illustration shows a graduation cap (mortarboard) with a small pile of coins inside its circular top. The background is green, and the cap's tassel is yellow.

Too many master’s courses are expensive and flaky

Governments should help postgraduates get a better deal


Elon Musk is Donald Trump’s disrupter-in-chief

The entrepreneur will be let loose on America’s government

Why British MPs should vote for assisted dying

A long-awaited liberal reform is in jeopardy