Refusal to release next batch of Israeli hostages as planned could derail fragile agreement

Hamas has said it will not release the next batch of Israeli hostages this weekend as planned, citing alleged Israeli violations of the fragile ceasefire, a development that could derail an already fragile three-week-old truce agreement.

Donald Trump then inflamed the situation by threatening that “hell is going to break out” unless Hamas releases all of the Israeli hostages it is holding on Saturday – an intervention that, along with his proposal for the US to take over and “develop” the Gaza Strip, appears to nullify the next stages of the truce.