**Gaza on Brink of Renewed Fighting**
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned Hamas that a ceasefire will end if they do not return hostages by Saturday. This has raised concern about the possibility of renewed fighting in Gaza.
Netanyahu met with his Security Cabinet on Tuesday after Hamas announced it would delay releasing more hostages until later. The group said Israel had broken terms of a three-week-old ceasefire agreement.
It is unclear what Netanyahu wants – all 76 remaining hostages or just the three due to be released this Saturday. Hamas says it will release prisoners if the situation can be resolved through mediators.
**Pressure from Arab Countries**
Arab countries are putting pressure on Hamas to bring the deal back on track. Egypt has announced plans to present a “vision” for rebuilding Gaza without displacing its population.
US President Donald Trump suggested Israel cancel the agreement and let hell break loose unless all hostages were returned by Saturday. Netanyahu welcomed this request, but it is unclear what he really wants.
**Controversial Proposal**
Trump’s proposal to have the US take over post-war Gaza and relocate Palestinians has been rejected by Arab countries, the Palestinian Authority, and the UN. They call this plan “racist” and “a call for ethnic cleansing”.
Hamas says Trump’s remarks are a threat to their people’s national rights. The group fears a repeat of the Nakba, or catastrophe, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave their homes in 1948.
**Ceasefire Agreement**
The ceasefire agreement saw Israel release 25 hostages and Hamas free five Thai nationals. A first phase is expected to last six weeks, with 33 Israeli hostages being exchanged for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners or detainees in Gaza.
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