A prompt ceasefire would result if Hamas would come out of their 300 miles of reinforced, sheltering tunnels, lay down their arms, return the hostages.

But they won't. Not when they have more than 5,000 rockets, an army of some 30,000 terrorists (many of whom crave martyrdom), two million human shields, and an expectation of help from Hezbollah and Iran.

For Israel to offer a ceasefire now would be a bit like the Allies offering the Axis a ceasefire in the middle of 1944. Wars end only when one side decides it can no longer win. Look at Wold War I. They had years to agree to a mutually beneficial end to hostilities.

But that would be quitting.

Horrible but true.