Egypt and Qatar working to salvage Gaza ceasefire deal

AP:

Egyptian and Qatari mediators were working to salvage the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, which risks being derailed because of a dispute between the two sides, according to Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News TV, which is close to the country’s security agencies.

Hamas has warned it will delay the next release of hostages scheduled for Saturday, saying Israel has violated the truce by firing on people in Gaza and not allowing the agreed-upon number of tents, shelters and other vital aid to enter the territory.

Since the fragile ceasefire took hold on January 19, Israeli fire has killed at least 92 Palestinians and wounded more than 800 others, said Munir al-Bursh, director general of the health ministry, on Tuesday. The Israeli military says it has fired on people who approach its forces or enter certain areas in violation of the truce.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the support of President Donald Trump, has warned that Israel would resume fighting if hostages are not freed on Saturday. Trump has threated that “all hell” will break out if the militant group does not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Saturday. Hamas reiterated on Wednesday that the only way to free the remaining hostages was for Israel to follow through with the ceasefire deal, brushing off warnings from Israel and the Trump administration.

“Our position … is clear, and we won’t accept the language of US and Israeli threats,” Hazem Kassem, a spokesman for Hamas, said.

In comments released by the militant group, Kassem said mediators were working to complete the ceasefire deal.