Israelis are supportive of the deal, but they can’t help but ask why it was necessary for additional hostages, soldiers and civilians to die before leaders finally took action?

The writer calls for shifting international pressure away from Israel and redirecting it toward Hamas and Hezbollah. (credit: ESA ALEXANDER/REUTERS)All of this bodes poorly for how well the Hamas deal will be enforced.

CAIRO (Reuters) - Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem congratulated Palestinians on Saturday over the Gaza ceasefire deal, saying in a speech that it proved the "persistence of resistance" against Israel. The remarks were the first in public by the leader of the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group since Israel and Hamas reached the accord on Wednesday.