Sebastian Usher

I mean, what seems to be the issue from what we've heard of it, this isn't 100% officially confirmed, is that Hamas with the prisoner list, the Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the Israeli hostages. They want one or two names, more prominent names than have been there so far. And Israel is saying, well, this is not what was agreed to. This was not in the list.

I mean, what seems to be the issue from what we've heard of it, this isn't 100% officially confirmed, is that Hamas with the prisoner list, the Palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for the Israeli hostages. They want one or two names, more prominent names than have been there so far. And Israel is saying, well, this is not what was agreed to. This was not in the list.

I mean, it seems to me that this could still be overcome. But what has happened, the direct result has been that a meeting of the Israeli cabinet and the security cabinet, which was supposed to vote on this again several hours ago, has been postponed. And we're not quite sure when that's going to happen.

I mean, it seems to me that this could still be overcome. But what has happened, the direct result has been that a meeting of the Israeli cabinet and the security cabinet, which was supposed to vote on this again several hours ago, has been postponed. And we're not quite sure when that's going to happen.

I think that's a good point. I think theatrics is probably being slightly too superficial about this. I think it's more serious than that, obviously, because the stakes are so high. But it's not something we haven't seen before. It's not something we haven't seen from Mr Netanyahu before. Very much, it has been a blame game.

I think that's a good point. I think theatrics is probably being slightly too superficial about this. I think it's more serious than that, obviously, because the stakes are so high. But it's not something we haven't seen before. It's not something we haven't seen from Mr Netanyahu before. Very much, it has been a blame game.

And I think that he is very mindful of the opposition within Israel from the hardliners who feel that this is a deal that allows Hamas too much, that this goal of eradicating Hamas which time and time again, Mr. Netanyahu said he was 100 percent, you know, this is the only end of the war in sight. That's not what's going to happen.

And I think that he is very mindful of the opposition within Israel from the hardliners who feel that this is a deal that allows Hamas too much, that this goal of eradicating Hamas which time and time again, Mr. Netanyahu said he was 100 percent, you know, this is the only end of the war in sight. That's not what's going to happen.

So what they want, essentially, is a ceasefire to take place for six weeks. But they want Israel essentially to be free to restart the war if necessary after that. So I think it's very much Netanyahu dealing with a domestic issue more than anything else.

So what they want, essentially, is a ceasefire to take place for six weeks. But they want Israel essentially to be free to restart the war if necessary after that. So I think it's very much Netanyahu dealing with a domestic issue more than anything else.

I mean, there are, and this is a sign of that, that even with the deal supposedly done and dusted, there's still issues about it. In 16 days from Sunday, if it goes into effect, the negotiations on the next phase will begin.

I mean, there are, and this is a sign of that, that even with the deal supposedly done and dusted, there's still issues about it. In 16 days from Sunday, if it goes into effect, the negotiations on the next phase will begin.

And they've been left, I think, purposefully open in order not to close down the space in which Hamas and Israel would be able to agree to that ceasefire, the hope being in any... thing like this. But once a ceasefire is in place, the momentum will build that it will then become very difficult to move away from that.

And they've been left, I think, purposefully open in order not to close down the space in which Hamas and Israel would be able to agree to that ceasefire, the hope being in any... thing like this. But once a ceasefire is in place, the momentum will build that it will then become very difficult to move away from that.

But there are certainly voices inside Israel that are saying that's not what we believe should happen. And they're voices that Ms Netanyahu has listened to before. So yes, there are big, big challenges. In some ways, the hardest work of negotiation will begin in the next two or three weeks.

But there are certainly voices inside Israel that are saying that's not what we believe should happen. And they're voices that Ms Netanyahu has listened to before. So yes, there are big, big challenges. In some ways, the hardest work of negotiation will begin in the next two or three weeks.

Just a week ago, anyone taking the Mazna border crossing from Lebanon into Syria only needed their passport to be waved through with a smile by border guards who'd taken over from officials appointed under Bashar al-Assad's rule. That's just changed to some degree, with Lebanese nationals now needing a Syrian residency permit or official permission to enter.

Just a week ago, anyone taking the Mazna border crossing from Lebanon into Syria only needed their passport to be waved through with a smile by border guards who'd taken over from officials appointed under Bashar al-Assad's rule. That's just changed to some degree, with Lebanese nationals now needing a Syrian residency permit or official permission to enter.

It could be in response to recent border incidents, including a clash between armed Syrians and Lebanese troops. But it may also be a tit-for-tat measure for Lebanon, already only allowing Syrians with Lebanese residency into the country. Either way, it means that taxis are no longer able to drive the whole route between Beirut and Damascus.

It could be in response to recent border incidents, including a clash between armed Syrians and Lebanese troops. But it may also be a tit-for-tat measure for Lebanon, already only allowing Syrians with Lebanese residency into the country. Either way, it means that taxis are no longer able to drive the whole route between Beirut and Damascus.