To understand what is happening with the Gaza Strip and why it is happening one needs only to look at a simple kitchen utensil: a pressure cooker with a malfunctioning release vent. Eventually the pot will explode.

This is what is happening in Gaza. Its pressure release vent has malfunctioned, or rather has been sealed shut by an Israeli blockade on the territory, and the pent-up energy is creating explosions. In part, this is what led to the storming of the Egyptian border near Rafah last month when half the Strip's population crossed the international frontier, despite the presence of Egyptian border guards, in order to buy food and supplies in Egypt.

Israel's policy of electing to ignore an elected party, a policy supported by the U.S. administration of George W. Bush has failed to produce the desired results: that of bringing about the rapid demise of Hamas. Rather, Hamas is finding itself stronger with every Israeli attack.

Granted, Israel justifies its attacks on the Gaza Strip as retaliation for the rockets Hamas fires at Israeli cities and towns. And what follows are more rockets to avenge Israel's attacks, followed by more attacks to avenge the rockets. At this point it becomes somewhat similar to the age-old riddle of what came first, the chicken or the egg? In this case the rockets or the attacks?

The bottom line is that it really makes no difference as to who fired first and who retaliated. This devious and deadly game can go on forever. What is required at this point is for someone to take a bold step in the direction of a peaceful resolution.

But as one Arab ambassador told the Middle East Times, one of the major problems surrounding the Middle East crisis is that there are no leaders capable of imposing change for the better. The region is caught in a vicious cycle of violence and seems to be heading for even greater chaos. Unfortunately, said the diplomat, the region lacks competent leadership, whether it's Israel's prime minister, Syria's president, the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, or yet the president of the United States - the latter needs to play a fundamental role in encouraging peacemaking in the Middle East.

But how can one realistically expect the peace process to move forward without the participation of one of the main protagonists in the conflict, Hamas? The policy of not talking to one's enemies has clearly failed to yield positive results. The logical next step would be to reassess that policy and change it. But for that to happen logic needs to prevail. So far that has not been the case.