Once again the Middle East is on the brink of implosion. Once again it smells like gunpowder.
And as always, a new round of blood answers the previous one and paves the way for the next.
I don't know many who will mourn the death of the commander of a vile terrorist organization.
But I suspect that many of his like-minded people will want revenge. And of course, no state worthy of the name can leave its children at the mercy of terrorism.
But then; We are heading into the eleventh month of the cycle of violence sparked on October 7 of last year by Hamas's incursion into Israel.
Israel's reprisals have been self-evident, harsh, sometimes excessive, and yet they continue without any light at the end of the tunnel.
It is obvious that no state can live under the constant threat of those who want to destroy it. But it is equally obvious that this disgusting trade in violence and blood cannot continue forever.
Every people is entitled to security as well as peace.
But in the Middle East, the obvious has long been disproven. Especially since religious fanaticism has taken over the game of destabilization and as long as military power is the only convincing obstacle to its imposition.
It would perhaps be a mistake to charge Islam as a whole with insanity. It is a large religion, with millions of believers who are by no means all fanatical murderers.
But on the other hand we cannot overlook that it is the theocratic nomenclature of Iran that sustains and guides a violent "Party of God" (their God) throughout the Middle East.
Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis and their other branches bear little resemblance to Swiss Christian Democrats.
This (not so) creeping conflict is perhaps the most intractable aspect of the Middle East problem.
It is little subject to national, historical, ideological or geopolitical coordinates, is incessantly nourished by irrational fanaticism and explains why there is no reasonable scope for compromise.
Even the scenes of mass hysteria from the Hamas leader's funeral inspire more horror than piety.
Unfortunately, this is the harsh reality of the Middle East.
Which will be difficult to change. And even more difficult to end the cycle of blood.