Arab governments emphasized this week that that the root issue underlying the violence — the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict — must be resolved.

It’s not just a diminished Iran and its impact on Hamas that gives hostage families hope. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, riding a wave of public support for the Iran war and its achievements, could feel he has more space to move toward ending the war in Gaza, something his far-right governing partners oppose.

Qatar is working to facilitate indirect talks between Israel and Hamas with the goal of a ceasefire and the release of hostages.