Is path to peace really possible? Much still to do but there are reasons to hope

Israel and Hamas have agreed to an initial phase of the Gaza plan proposed last week by Donald Trump. Much is still uncertain but this could be the biggest step yet towards an end to the two-year war.

- Jason Burke International security correspondent

Why now?

A combination of factors has come together to tip the balance. Isolated internationally and under growing pressure at home, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, appears to have calculated that he cannot risk the support of his country's staunchest ally by refusing to halt the offensive.

He also probably judged that he could ride out opposition to any deal from far-right members of his coalition government, especially if the terms of the deal favour Israel, as appears to be the case.

At the same time, Hamas has been unable to inflict significant losses on Israel's forces in Gaza or effectively slow their advance. The militant Islamist organisation is under pressure from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to make concessions, and its future would look perilous without some degree of support from, or at least understanding among, these regional powers.

But is this just an initial step?