Editorial丨Neither hostages nor cease-fire on his mind

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The widespread protests and strikes that swept across Israel on Sunday after the recovery of the b odies of six hostages that had been held by Hamas would seem to have increased the pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement on a cease-fire with the militant group. But the anger over the deaths of the hostages, who were reportedly killed hours before their bodies were recovered in a tunnel in Rafah on Saturday, may have served the opposite purpose by prompting the Israeli leader to dump the ongoing cease-fire talks that involve Israel, the United States, Egypt and Qatar. ▲ A person wears a mask depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as protesters rally against the g overnment, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel on Sept 1. Photo/Agencies Hamas had initially prepared to release the six hostages as part of the temporary cease-fire pact that had appeared so near in the latest round of negotiation ………………………………