If the explosions in Iran yesterday are the Israeli response to the Iranian attack on Israel it is ominous for the population of Gaza.

The response is uncharacteristically limited. It raises the question of whether a deal has been done with the US providing a green light for a ground invasion of Rafa in return for a limited response to the missile attack by Iran.

If that proves to be the case it will be a perfidious betrayal of the interests of Palestinian civilians. But if, as expected it leads to a blood bath it will further undermine the credibility of Israel’s claims for moral authority and that of their ally the United States.

This is not good for anyone but, as always, innocent Palestinian men women and children will pay with their lives.