Beyond the Headlines: What will it take for Israel and Hamas to lay down arms?

Eight months into the war in Gaza, as two million people there struggle for survival and more than 36,600 have lost their lives, the fate of Israel and Hamas also hangs in the balance.

Israel has said it will not stop the war until it eradicates Hamas, but it is also struggling internally as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fights to keep hold of power – and there are concerns over what the army can realistically achieve as pressure mounts for Israel to stick to the rules of military combat and international humanitarian law.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has outlined a ceasefire plan to move from a limited exchange of hostages for Palestinian detainees to broader discussions about a permanent end to the conflict. The plan includes ending hostilities, releasing hostages and reconstructing Gaza in the long term.

Mr Biden has acknowledged this transition will be challenging. Among the points of contention is that Mr Netanyahu wants the hostages released first before a ceasefire begins and Hamas wants the opposite.

In this week’s Beyond The Headlines, host Nada AlTaher looks into the dynamics that influence the prospects of ending the war, why previous negotiations have failed and how internal and external pressure can influence Israel.