Evan Davis

Obviously, the health establishment, mainstream opinion in health will find this a shocking appointment. What exactly do they fear of RFK?

A senior Egyptian source told the BBC that Egypt and Qatar, who helped broker the current ceasefire deal, are trying to prevent its collapse after recriminations between Hamas and Israel over the planned release of more hostages on Saturday. Failure, said the source, would lead to a new wave of violence with serious regional repercussions.

A senior Egyptian source told the BBC that Egypt and Qatar, who helped broker the current ceasefire deal, are trying to prevent its collapse after recriminations between Hamas and Israel over the planned release of more hostages on Saturday. Failure, said the source, would lead to a new wave of violence with serious regional repercussions.

Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister have both said that if hostages aren't handed over, as agreed under Stage 1 of the ceasefire, the deal would be off and the war in Gaza would resume. But while Mr Trump says that all hostages should be freed and there are 76 still in captivity, Benjamin Netanyahu has been less clear, perhaps intentionally so, not saying if he agrees with Mr Trump...

Donald Trump and the Israeli Prime Minister have both said that if hostages aren't handed over, as agreed under Stage 1 of the ceasefire, the deal would be off and the war in Gaza would resume. But while Mr Trump says that all hostages should be freed and there are 76 still in captivity, Benjamin Netanyahu has been less clear, perhaps intentionally so, not saying if he agrees with Mr Trump...

or if he's demanding three more hostages to be freed on Saturday, as outlined under the deal. Either way, the uncertainty and Donald Trump's regular interventions have complicated the already fragile ceasefire. If Hamas, as before, does publish a list on Friday of which three hostages it intends to release, Mr Netanyahu may find it difficult to cancel the deal.

or if he's demanding three more hostages to be freed on Saturday, as outlined under the deal. Either way, the uncertainty and Donald Trump's regular interventions have complicated the already fragile ceasefire. If Hamas, as before, does publish a list on Friday of which three hostages it intends to release, Mr Netanyahu may find it difficult to cancel the deal.

Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, today kept up the pressure on Hamas, saying that if it does not release the hostages on Saturday, the gates of hell will open on them, just as the US president promised.

Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, today kept up the pressure on Hamas, saying that if it does not release the hostages on Saturday, the gates of hell will open on them, just as the US president promised.

I think Mr Netanyahu has been deliberately vague. There are members of his cabinet who've come out and said they back Mr Trump 100 percent. And some unofficial comments from the government say, yes, that is what they want. They want all hostages released. But I think in practice, that will be very vague.

I think Mr Netanyahu has been deliberately vague. There are members of his cabinet who've come out and said they back Mr Trump 100 percent. And some unofficial comments from the government say, yes, that is what they want. They want all hostages released. But I think in practice, that will be very vague.

unfeasible because it would mean Netanyahu unilaterally changing the terms of an agreed ceasefire. If Hamas, for example, on Friday afternoon, as they've done so far, give a list of three hostages to be released as was planned, and Netanyahu says all of a sudden, no, that's not enough, we want them all out. And in that case, war would resume. There would be huge repercussions in Israel.

unfeasible because it would mean Netanyahu unilaterally changing the terms of an agreed ceasefire. If Hamas, for example, on Friday afternoon, as they've done so far, give a list of three hostages to be released as was planned, and Netanyahu says all of a sudden, no, that's not enough, we want them all out. And in that case, war would resume. There would be huge repercussions in Israel.

The vast majority of people in Israel, especially the families and supporters of the hostages, want the ceasefire deal to continue because they've seen regular releases of hostages. Now, of course, that would take Hamas to change its position.

The vast majority of people in Israel, especially the families and supporters of the hostages, want the ceasefire deal to continue because they've seen regular releases of hostages. Now, of course, that would take Hamas to change its position.

Hamas yesterday said that they were suspending the release of hostages at the weekend because of what they said were Israeli breaches of the ceasefire agreement. If Hamas now changed their position and published the list of three, as they would have done anyway, I think it's going to be very difficult for Mr Netanyahu to insist that everybody should be released.

Hamas yesterday said that they were suspending the release of hostages at the weekend because of what they said were Israeli breaches of the ceasefire agreement. If Hamas now changed their position and published the list of three, as they would have done anyway, I think it's going to be very difficult for Mr Netanyahu to insist that everybody should be released.

The big challenge at the minute is how do we move from ceasefire part one, which is only two weeks before it finishes, to ceasefire part two, which would involve the release of more hostages and a longer-term agreement to formally end the war. Those talks haven't started yet, and that's going to take some effort.

The big challenge at the minute is how do we move from ceasefire part one, which is only two weeks before it finishes, to ceasefire part two, which would involve the release of more hostages and a longer-term agreement to formally end the war. Those talks haven't started yet, and that's going to take some effort.

So the Israelis, the Hamas delegates, the Qataris, the Egyptians and the Americans are going to have to get round a table. Otherwise, there will be no stage two. And if there is no stage two, then the likelihood of a resumption of the war is more possible.