Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

President Trump's call for all hostages to be freed by Saturday is now threatening a ceasefire which was fragile from the start.

Members of Israel’s government have seized his warning as an opportunity to end a deal they never liked. On the morning of 19 January, when the first phase of this truce came into force, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar immediately called it a “temporary ceasefire".

His comments underlined how it wasn’t seen as a path to end the war, but a means to bring Israeli hostages home, then resume the fight.

So far, Prime Minister Netanyahu seems to be trying to keep his options open. Members of his security cabinet emerged from their four-hour meeting yesterday repeating President Trump’s ultimatum.

But the Israeli leader only said “our hostages” had to be freed, not “all.”

Egyptian and Qatari mediators, along with other players, are certain to do what they can to prevent a collapse.

President Trump, who vowed to be the President who stops war, not start them, may have more to say as the consequences of his comments become clearer.

There will also be pressure on Hamas which first raised questions about the ceasefire by accusing Israel of violating its terms. The deal requires it to release the names of the next three hostages by Friday.

Then it will be Israel’s move.

Image source, Reuters

The uncle of Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov, who was on the list of 33 hostages who should be released during the first phase of the new ceasefire, says the possibility of the deal falling through is "frightening".

Omer, 22, was abducted from the Nova music festival on 7 October. His uncle, David Zalimanovich, says his concern grew after seeing the physical condition of those freed in the latest hostage release.

David says the family has received various signs since 7 October that Omer is still alive, but adds they "can't assure that he's in a good condition".

He says his family is "really scared that any excuse" will make the deal fall through.

Image source, Getty Images

President Trump's involvement in the Gaza ceasefire shows the US is "moving the goalposts", a think tank says. It comes after Trump threatened "all hell will break out" if Hamas fails to release "all" the hostages on Saturday,as opposed to the three Israeli hostages expected to be released as part of the first phase of the deal.

It remains unclear whether Netanyahu really intends to collapse the ceasefire deal if all of the remaining hostages are not released by the Saturday deadline. In yesterday's statement Netanyahu demanded the return of "our hostages", not "all" hostages - as Trump had said.

Jane Kinninmont from the European Leadership Network tells BBC Radio 5 Live that the ceasefire deal was "always going to be difficult to implement given it involves two enemies who want to destroy one another".

She adds that Hamas and Israel "also need something from each other", referring to the release of hostages, entering of aid and freeing of Palestinian prisoners.

"From Hamas's point of view, all along hostages have been bargaining chips. So when they see their aims being thwarted, then there's more temptation for them to try to do more with their bargaining chips," she says.

Tom Bateman
US State department correspondent

In their meeting yesterday, Donald Trump doubled down on his plan to empty Gaza of Palestinians, with King Abdullah of Jordan sat to his right, at times looking awkward and avoiding any direct criticism of the president.

Trump repeated his idea that the US would take control of Gaza and develop it as Mediterranean resort - but he contradicted a comment he made only on Sunday that the US would buy the territory, now saying there was nothing to buy as it’s a war torn area.

Having called for Egypt and Jordan to take displaced Palestinians, Trump said there would be what he called great progress in his proposal to take over Gaza.

King Abdullah, pressed by reporters on the plan to force out Palestinians to Jordan, said only that its ally Egypt was developing its own proposal for the future of Gaza.

His remarks came shortly before Cairo announced it was developing what it called a comprehensive plan to rebuild Gaza ensuring Palestinians remain on their land.

The proposal, which King Abdullah made reference to while sat next to Trump, appears to be an attempt to present an alternative to the US president's ideas.

Each day brings new details from Trump, sometimes revealing another element of his thinking that is sending shockwaves through the region and upending years of established US policy, other times contradicting his own remarks from the day before.

Image source, EPA

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged Israel and Hamas to ensure the ceasefire deal continues to hold.

"I [Antonio Guterres] appeal to Hamas to proceed with the planned liberation of hostages next Saturday, and both sides must fully abide by their commitments in the ceasefire agreement and resume serious negotiations in Doha for the second phase."

Guterres' statement was read out by UN spokesman Rolando Gomez at a news briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.

"We must avoid at all costs the resumption of hostilities in Gaza," Gomez read, adding that it results in "immense tragedy".

Gomez also said that the UN's priority was on getting aid into Gaza, which continues to be an "enormous need".

Wyre Davies
Reporting from Jerusalem

Israeli minister, Miri Regev, made it clear her government supported President Trump's statement that everyone should be released.

Her comments came after Benjamin Netanyahu said he welcomed Trump's demand for the release of the hostages.

“The decision passed unanimously by the cabinet”, said Netanyahu, “is that if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon - the ceasefire will be terminated, and the IDF will return to intense fighting until Hamas is finally defeated”.

But the prime minister hasn’t been clear whether he’s insisting that all 76 hostages should be freed by the deadline -- or whether he's referring to around three named hostages, as outlined in the ceasefire agreement.

It's a confusing picture, reflecting the precarious and delicate nature of the ceasefire.

Hamas had initially said it was postponing this weekend’s scheduled release of hostages, accusing Israel of violating the agreement.

Hamas now says it remains committed to the ceasefire, which also has overwhelming support in Israel.

If, by the end of this week, Hamas does release the names of the three hostages it intends to release, Netanyahu will face intense pressure not to resume the fighting.

As we've reported, Egypt has said it plans to present a "comprehensive vision" for the reconstruction of Gaza.

Egypt voiced its "aspiration" to co-operate with US President Donald Trump's administration "to achieve comprehensive and just peace in the region, by reaching a just settlement of the Palestinian issue that takes into account the rights of the peoples of the region".

In a statement shared on social media by the foreign ministry's spokesman,, external Egypt says its plans will put forward a "comprehensive vision" for the survival of Palestinians that is "consistent with the legitimate and legal rights".

The statement went on to say that any vision, or plan, for what happens next in the region should "avoid jeopardising the gains of peace".

It comes after King Abdullah of Jordan said in a meeting with Trump yesterday that Egypt would be putting forward a plan on working with the US.

Image source, Reuters

Hamas says it "remains committed to the ceasefire agreement" but emphasises that Israel is "responsible for any complications or delays".

Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told the BBC that the door was open for US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators to intervene and get the ceasefire deal back on track.

"We don't wish that this deal will fall apart," he said. "We are doing the maximum to avoid any obstacles, any challenges, and therefore we are ready to hand over prisoners next Saturday if the situation is rectified through the mediators."

Hamas has also reiterated its rejection of US President Donald Trump's plan to "take over" Gaza, labelling the president's comments as "racist" and saying the plan won't succeed.

"The Hamas movement remains committed to the ceasefire agreement as long as the occupation abides by it," the group adds, noting that the deal was brokered by mediators and witnessed by the international community.

Image source, Israel Government Press Office

Following a four-hour meeting of Israel's security cabinet on Tuesday, Netanyahu said in a video statement that he "welcomed President Trump's demand" for Hamas to release Israeli hostages.

Netanyahu said: "In light of Hamas's announcement regarding its decision to violate the agreement and not release our hostages, last night I instructed the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to amass forces inside - and surrounding - the Gaza Strip.

"This action is being carried out at this hour and will be completed very soon," the statement added.

He then issued an ultimatum that he said had his security cabinet's unanimous approval.

"If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end and the IDF will resume intense fighting until the final defeat of Hamas."

• For context: Trump proposed that Israel cancel the ceasefire deal altogether unless “all” the hostages were returned by Saturday. It remains unclear whether Netanyahu really intends to collapse the ceasefire deal if all the remaining hostages are not released by the Saturday deadline.

Yolande Knell
Middle East correspondent. in Jerusalem

After a long meeting of the security cabinet, President Trump’s proposal - that Israel cancel the ceasefire deal altogether unless “all” the hostages were returned by Saturday - was taken up by key Israeli ministers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then stated in a video message: “If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end.”

It remains unclear if the prime minister really intends to collapse the ceasefire deal if "all" the remaining hostages are not released by that deadline. Hamas has issued a statement renewing its commitment to the ceasefire and accusing Israel of jeopardising it.

It’s understood that Arab countries are exerting pressure on the armed group to try to get the deal back on track.

Egypt has said it plans to present a “comprehensive vision” for the reconstruction of Gaza that does not involve displacing the population – unlike the proposal put forward by President Trump.

Imogen James
Live reporter

Israel says it will resume fighting and end the Gaza ceasefire deal if Hamas does not release Israeli hostages by Saturday.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn't specify if he meant all of the hostages, or the three originally due to be freed.

Netanyahu has ordered his forces to gather in and around Gaza, but Hamas continues to say Israel is "responsible for any complications or delays".

Hamas said it was delaying the next scheduled release of the hostages this weekend, blaming Israel for violating the terms of the fragile agreement - though it says they are still committed to the ceasefire deal.

It is understood that Arab countries are pressuring them to get the deal back on track.

If Israeli hostages aren't released by Saturday, US President Donald Trump warned that "all hell is going to break out" on Gaza - a plan that Netanyahu said on Tuesday he welcomes.

For many Palestinians, who have just returned home following the ceasefire deal, there is a growing concern and uncertainty.

Stick with us as we bring you the latest on the developing situation.