Outrage, anguish and anti-government protests on the streets – the reaction to Hamas’s announcement that further hostage releases would be “postponed” was, we can assume, exactly what the terror group was hoping for.

And there is no denying that, for the loved ones of the remaining 42, it is a truly dark moment.

However, beneath the initial clamour, there appears to be a quiet confidence in Israel’s government and commentariat that this is not necessarily the disaster it first seemed.

The big question is why would Hamas do it.

Officially, they have accused Israel of violating the terms of the deal by not allowing sufficient aid into Gaza, impeding the return of Palestinian civilians and of targeting them with bullets and shells.