Gaza: Confusion and mistrust hang over efforts to save ceasefire

Egypt and Qatar are "intensifying diplomatic efforts" as concern grows that fighting will resume.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersConfusion clouds efforts to save Gaza ceasefire14 hours agoYolande KnellMiddle East correspondentReporting fromJerusalemRushdi AbualoufGaza correspondentReporting fromCairoEPAMany displaced Palestinians have returned to the ruins of their homes in the northThe Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has looked shaky since it came into force on 19 January but now looks the closest yet to totally falling apart.

A senior Egyptian source told the BBC that regional mediators Egypt and Qatar were "intensifying their diplomatic efforts in an attempt to salvage the ceasefire agreement".

A top-level Hamas delegation has now arrived in Cairo for talks "to contain the current crisis", a Hamas official told the BBC. He reiterated his group's "full commitment" to the terms of the deal.

On Tuesday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "If Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end and the [Israeli military] will resume intense fighting."

However, there has been mixed messaging on whether he means all 76 hostages still in Gaza - in line with the high-stakes ultimatum recommended by US President Donald Trump.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7d9p0j5qeo

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