The sense of relief for the Palestinians on 6 May after the United States (US) indicated that a ceasefire and propos­ed hostage deal had been struck, proved short-lived. The ceasefire appeared possible. Hamas responded “positively” to a deal on which Israel had earlier signed off, with the US, Qatar, and Egypt listed as guarantors. The ceasefire planned in three phases would have released all Israeli captives in Gaza in exchange for a limited number of Palestinian prisoners; brought about a ‘‘sustainable calm’’ leading to a permanent ceasefire; withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza; and immediate resumption of humanitarian assistance. But even as US Secretary of State called it a generous deal, Israel backtracked, declared that Hamas’s response was unacceptable, and started the large-scale-planned Rafah invasion. All bets on a ceasefire are off, as the Inter­national Court of Justice-adjudicated “plausible” case of genocide by Israel resumes