Good news about the rockets? Maybe

Popular Arab world analyst Abu Ali said today (Monday) that despite the distress and anger at the renewal of rocket fire at Israeli towns in the south, there is reason for hope that the threat is short-lived.

According to his analysis, while some five rockets have been fired at Israel since the end of December from Beit Hanoun, no rockets have been fired from areas under the IDF's "operational control" in Beit Lahia or in Gaza City.

As the IDF is continuing to work to gain operational control in Beit Hanoun, despite hard fighting and losses, it is likely that rocket fire from there will end once this goal is achieved.

Meanwhile, both sides of the emerging hostage deal are exchanging accusations about who is sabotaging talks, with Hamas claiming that it is holding up its end of the deal and Israel saying they won't even provide a list of live hostages.