Impact of Recent Violence on Israeli Society

The recent killing of six Israeli hostages attributed to Hamas has intensified divisions within Israeli society. There was a potential peace deal that might have facilitated the hostages' release, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ultimately rejected. The backdrop to this decision includes Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, adding complications to his diplomatic strategies. Critics argue that had the peace deal been accepted earlier, there could have been fewer casualties on both sides, with thousands of lives potentially spared.