Timing is everything.

This couldn't be truer for the current ceasefire deal on the table to end the devastating war in Gaza .

More than 67,000 Palestinians are dead, virtually all of Gaza has been flattened by Israel's bombing campaign, and disease and famine stalk the Strip.

Gaza latest - Gaza ceasefire deal 'could be signed tomorrow'

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Gaza deal could be agreed within 24-36 hours

Yet Hamas - the group still holding the 20 or so living hostages in captivity - is still not entirely defeated.

Yes, they are weakened immensely, but has Benjamin Netanyahu achieved the "total victory" over the group he set out to do two years ago? No.

So why has he suddenly agreed to a partial victory?

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