Israel Shouldn’t Be Told When to Resume Fire

The United States on Monday announced that a planned four-day pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas has been extended by another two days to secure the release of an additional 20 hostages (adding to the 50 freed as part of the initial deal). The decision by Israel to negotiate over the release of hostages in exchange for releasing Palestinian prisoners, including some who were convicted of attempted murder, is a fraught one.

Israel is no stranger to how such exchanges come back to haunt it. In 2011, Israel agreed...