Hamas Says It Will Delay the Release of More Hostages, Putting Gaza Ceasefire at Risk, AP
Yesterday, Hamas announced a delay in the next hostage release, citing Israeli violations of the ceasefire, while Netanyahu faces growing pressure after the release of emaciated hostages held for 16 months.
Israel’s Security Cabinet Meets as Pressure on Cease-Fire Rises, The New York Times
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday after Hamas said it was postponing the next release of Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip, increasing the pressure on an already fragile three-week cease-fire. The security cabinet was set to consider how or whether to move forward with ongoing negotiations to secure the safe release of all hostages this spring.
‘Let Hell Break Out’: Trump Says Gaza Cease-fire Should End Saturday if All Israeli Hostages Not Released, Haaretz
President Donald Trump has warned that if Hamas does not release all remaining Israeli hostages by noon on Saturday, he will advocate for ending the Gaza ceasefire and resuming military action. He stated, “If all the hostages are not released by Saturday at 12 noon, the ceasefire should be called off—let hell break out.”
Trump Says He Could Withhold Aid to Jordan, Egypt if They Don’t Take in Palestinians, The Washington Post
President Donald Trump suggested he might withhold U.S. aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refuse to take in displaced Palestinians. When asked about the possibility, he responded, “Yeah, maybe, sure, why not? If they don’t, I would conceivably withhold aid, yes.”
Palestinian President Revokes Prisoner Payments Dubbed “Pay for Slay”, Axios
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a decree revoking the existing system of payments to families of Palestinians imprisoned or killed by Israeli forces, a practice criticized by the U.S. as incentivizing violence. The specifics of the new disbursement mechanism have not been disclosed, but payments will now be managed by a government body under the president’s office.
What the Horrible Hostage Release Videos Say about an Important Israeli Failure, Substack
Ilan Goldenberg analyzes the recent hostage release, highlighting the complex dynamics between Israel and Hamas. He emphasizes that “the release underscores the deep-rooted challenges in achieving a lasting peace.”
Between Courtroom Misery and Knesset Victory Lap, Netanyahu Reduces Hostages to Footnote, Haaretz
Yossi Verter writes, “Even after the latest hostage release on Saturday – when it is clear they are suffering in tunnels, tortured, chained, and surviving on scraps – he showed no urgency in changing priorities. Speaking of scraps – he did make time to share details of the ‘wonderful’ dinner he enjoyed with President Trump at the White House.”
Jordan, Home to Millions of Palestinians, Fears Trump’s Gaza Proposal, The Washington Post
Claire Parker writes, “The push by Trump has turbocharged a reckoning over Jordan’s reliance on U.S. aid and revived existential questions about the country’s identity and political future, at a time of simmering popular dissatisfaction with the king. Jordan is highly dependent on both U.S. military and economic assistance, the latter of which is transferred directly to the state to prop up its budget — and Trump has suggested he could use the nearly $1.5 billion in U.S. aid Jordan receives annually as leverage to force Amman to comply with his Gaza proposal.”