Raja Shehadeh: I remember when Palestinians dared to hope for peace. How did it come to this?

Will it be possible to break out of the endless cycle of revenge and counter-revenge? asks Raja Shehadeh

Israeli armoured vehicles advance towards the border with the Gaza Strip on Sunday amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas. Picture: Menahem Kahana/AFP

I have been sitting helplessly in Ramallah, watching endless television clips of the horrific bombardment of civilian infrastructure and residences in Gaza, and the heartbreaking suffering of civilians there.

I have heard the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, say that his country is fighting against “human animals”, and I have seen the aftermath of the indiscriminate killings of civilians committed by Hamas militants in southern Israel. I’ve been waiting for the “significant ground operations” that have been threatening to arrive at any moment.