As the relentless assault on Gaza approaches the end of its third week, it is beginning to look as though the Israeli government is flirting with the possibility of regime change – the eradication of Hamas from Gaza and the occupied territories. That is a delusion. What is needed now is an exit strategy to end the current crisis.

The need for a ceasefire to end the humanitarian disaster engulfing 1.5m Gazans is paramount. In order to secure one, both Israel and Hamas also need to be able to show that ceasefires have a purpose.