Nick Miles

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Nick Miles and in the early hours of Wednesday the 12th of February, these are our main stories. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Gaza ceasefire deal will end if Hamas does not free hostages by Saturday. Mr Netanyahu added that intense fighting would also resume.

King Abdullah of Jordan has told President Trump that his country would take thousands of sick children from Gaza. In other news, the author Salman Rushdie has testified at the trial in New York State of a man accused of attempting to murder him. Also in this podcast.

King Abdullah of Jordan has told President Trump that his country would take thousands of sick children from Gaza. In other news, the author Salman Rushdie has testified at the trial in New York State of a man accused of attempting to murder him. Also in this podcast.

Washington says it secured the release of a US school teacher who had been held in Russia for four years. We speak to his sister. Israel and Hamas are midway through the first stage of a fragile ceasefire. So far, 16 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for more than 500 Palestinian prisoners. Another exchange is due to take place on Saturday. But all that has been thrown into question.

Washington says it secured the release of a US school teacher who had been held in Russia for four years. We speak to his sister. Israel and Hamas are midway through the first stage of a fragile ceasefire. So far, 16 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for more than 500 Palestinian prisoners. Another exchange is due to take place on Saturday. But all that has been thrown into question.

Hamas said they may delay the release because of what they said were Israeli violations of the agreement. The U.S. President Donald Trump says that if all hostages aren't returned by noon on Saturday, then, in his words, all hell will break loose. Meanwhile, after meeting his security cabinet, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said this.

Hamas said they may delay the release because of what they said were Israeli violations of the agreement. The U.S. President Donald Trump says that if all hostages aren't returned by noon on Saturday, then, in his words, all hell will break loose. Meanwhile, after meeting his security cabinet, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said this.

So is Benjamin Netanyahu really demanding the release of all hostages on Saturday, like President Trump? A question for our correspondent in Jerusalem, Wira Davis.

So is Benjamin Netanyahu really demanding the release of all hostages on Saturday, like President Trump? A question for our correspondent in Jerusalem, Wira Davis.

And meanwhile, Hamas have been saying that they want Qatari and Egyptian mediators to intervene to get the ceasefire deal back on track, in their words. By the sounds of things, it's going to be extremely difficult at this stage for mediators to make any difference.

And meanwhile, Hamas have been saying that they want Qatari and Egyptian mediators to intervene to get the ceasefire deal back on track, in their words. By the sounds of things, it's going to be extremely difficult at this stage for mediators to make any difference.

And at the moment, Hamas is saying that Israel has been blocking humanitarian aid. And that's the reason they're giving for maybe not releasing the next three hostages. Is there any room for movement there?

And at the moment, Hamas is saying that Israel has been blocking humanitarian aid. And that's the reason they're giving for maybe not releasing the next three hostages. Is there any room for movement there?

Well, just how do people on the ground in Gaza view the prospect of the ceasefire unravelling and a return to war? Barzad told the BBC of his family's reaction to the latest news.

Well, just how do people on the ground in Gaza view the prospect of the ceasefire unravelling and a return to war? Barzad told the BBC of his family's reaction to the latest news.

We heard there from people in Gaza, Dalia, Fahed and Barzad. Let's hear now from a relative of one of the hostages being held in Gaza. Sharon Livshitz's parents were taken by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. Her mother, Yocheved, was released, but her father, Oded, is still being held.

We heard there from people in Gaza, Dalia, Fahed and Barzad. Let's hear now from a relative of one of the hostages being held in Gaza. Sharon Livshitz's parents were taken by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. Her mother, Yocheved, was released, but her father, Oded, is still being held.

Sharon Livchitz. Well, the future of Gaza and the Palestinians living there was discussed at the White House when Donald Trump met Jordan's King Abdullah on Tuesday. On Monday, the US president said he might withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they didn't take in large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza. Here's Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Sharon Livchitz. Well, the future of Gaza and the Palestinians living there was discussed at the White House when Donald Trump met Jordan's King Abdullah on Tuesday. On Monday, the US president said he might withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they didn't take in large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza. Here's Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Well, King Abdullah had already rejected the idea of taking in Gazans, saying his country is at boiling point as it already hosts millions of refugees. King Abdullah did, however, announce that Jordan would take in 2,000 sick children from Gaza for treatment. Our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman was at the White House.