Hamas says it’s suspending the release of Israeli hostages – BBC.com
Source: BBC News
Donald Trump is hosting Jordan’s King Abdullah after suggesting he may withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they don’t co-operate with his plan to take control of Gaza and resettle the population in the two countries
Trump’s apparent determination to relocate Gaza’s population to Jordan has set the stage for a showdown between the US and a key Middle East ally, writes the BBC’s Lucy Williamson
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged “relentless action” to return hostages being held in Gaza, after Hamas said it would delay their release until further notice
Trump says Israel should cancel the ceasefire and “let hell break out” if Hamas does not release all remaining hostages by midday on Saturday
In response, a Hamas spokesman says “the language of threats has no value”, while defiant Palestinians say Trump “will never make Gaza hell”
In total, 17 Israeli hostages were still due to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire, eight of whom Israel says are dead. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have been freed by Israel so far
Edited by Andrew Humphrey and Emily Atkinson, with Lucy Williamson reporting from Jordan, and Bernd Debusmann Jr from the White House
King Abdullah of Jordan has arrived at the White House, where he was greeted by US President Donald Trump.
Their discussion will take place behind closed doors, but we’ll bring you the latest updates from this much-anticipated encounter as soon as we have them.
In 2016, the King of Jordan said his country was at “boiling point” and would need help from the international community to welcome more refugees.
So what is Jordan’s history with welcoming refugees?
Donald Trump expects Jordan to house many of the two million refugees who would be expelled from Gaza under his plan, but has already cut aid to Jordan worth more than $1.5 billion per year.
King Abdullah of Jordan met with some of President Trump’s advisers ahead of the pair’s own meeting
US President Donald Trump will soon be hosting King Abdullah of Jordan at the White House, where the pair are set to discuss the future of Gaza.
Their encounter comes as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas faces increasing strain, with doubts cast over its longevity after Hamas on Monday said it would suspend a hostage release scheduled for Saturday, accusing Israel of breaking the terms of the ceasefire deal.
Israel, in turn, accused Hamas of a “complete violation of the ceasefire agreement”, and said it had instructed the Israeli military “to prepare at the highest level of alert for any possible scenario in Gaza and to protect the communities”.
President Trump then weighed in. All “hell” would break out if Hamas failed to release all Israeli hostages by midday on Saturday, he said. Since taking office, Trump repeatedly voiced his controversial plans for a takeover of the Gaza Strip, and to resettle Palestinians in Egypt and Jordan.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised the Trump administration’s comments on the conflict.
The plans were criticised by others in the international community, particularly officials in Cairo and Amman. Now, Trump has threatened to withhold economic aid from Jordan if it, along with Egypt, refuses to accept Palestinians from Gaza.
Jordan has rejected the idea as a fundamental breach of international law, as our US State Department correspondent, Tom Bateman, writes.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister says she welcomes Donald Trump’s intervention in the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Sharren Haskel told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme: “I am glad that President Trump is very firm on his declaration. I know how much pressure it actually puts on the other side.
“For the first time for a year and a half, there’s a pressure on the other side to actually sit down and actually reason.”
She says she is “welcoming” it because it intends to offer a “diplomatic solution”.
Haskel also says that Hamas can resolve this by releasing the hostages due to be freed on Saturday, and to stop “threatening” Israel.
Israelâs prime minister has pledged ârelentless actionâ to return hostages still being held in Gaza but hostage families and their supporters out protesting this morning have been alarmed by the latest developments, as have war-weary Palestinians in Gaza.
Hamas accuses Israel of violations of the ceasefire deal â including blocking vital humanitarian aid such as tents, which Israel denies.
So far, Israelâs government has not indicated its next move after President Trump suggested a high-stakes ultimatum.
In a statement, Hamas said the door was open for international mediators to intervene and get the ceasefire deal back on track. A senior Hamas official dismissed what he called Trumpâs âlanguage of threats”.
With the Gaza ceasefire in jeopardy, a senior Hamas politician has told the BBC that Israel is to blame. Israel has said it is Hamas that is violating the agreement.
Dr Basem Naim told the BBC that Hamas remains committed to the deal a
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