At Tel Meggido, one of Israel’s most important archaeological sites, two skeletons were recently discovered in the home of an apparently wealthy family from about 1500 BCE, one of which has a small square-shaped hole in its skull. Although this is not the oldest evidence of an ancient medical procedure known as trephination (or trepanation)—that distinction goes to 40 sets of remains at a 6,500-year-old site in France—it is the oldest ever found in the Middle East. Nathan Steinmeyer writes:

DNA analysis of the bones revealed that the two men were brothers, and both showed signs of genetic defects and systemic infectious diseases. Most surprising, however, were the marks of trephination identified on the skull of the older brother, a rare and dangerous procedure in the ancient world. Only a few dozen cases of trephination have been identified in the ancient Near East, with this example being one of the oldest. According to the excavators, this trephination procedure was likely intended to relieve or treat the patient’s illness.

The brothers’ illnesses were apparently long-lasting, as evidenced by the extensive damage found in their bones in the form of lesions and porosity. Although it is not certain what caused these issues, one explanation is leprosy, which can remain active for decades and is known to spread within families and especially to adolescent males.

It may also be the case that the brothers’ shared genetic defects predisposed them to additional illnesses. . . . Whatever their conditions, the brothers lived long enough for them to leave extensive marks on their physiology. This was at least partially due to their social class, as individuals from lower classes could not afford the care needed to extend life. This is evidenced by the higher percentage of wealthy individuals with signs of long-endured diseases compared to those from lower classes.

Tamir Hayman analyzes the latest reports about an offer by Hamas to release three female soldiers in exchange for 150 captured terrorists, of whom 90 have received life sentences; then, if that exchange happens successfully, a second stage of the deal will begin.

If this does happen, Israel will release all the serious prisoners who had been sentenced to life and who are associated with Hamas, which will leave Israel without any bargaining chips for the second stage. In practice, Israel will release everyone who is important to Hamas without getting back all the hostages. In this situation, it’s evident that Israel will approach the second stage of the negotiations in the most unfavorable way possible. Hamas will achieve all its demands in the first stage, except for a commitment from Israel to end the war completely.

How does this relate to the fighting in Rafah? Hayman explains:

In the absence of an agreement or compromise by Hamas, it is detrimental for Israel to continue the static situation we were in. It is positive that new energy has entered the campaign. . . . The [capture of the] border of the Gaza Strip and the Rafah crossing are extremely important achievements, while the ongoing dismantling of the battalions is of secondary importance.

That being said, Hayman is critical of the approach to negotiations taken so far:

Gradual hostage trades don’t work. We must adopt a different concept of a single deal in which Israel offers a complete cessation of the war in exchange for all the hostages.