Australia news LIVE: Banks told to ignore HECS when weighing up home loans; Israel threatens to restart war in Gaza if Hamas doesn’t release hostages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and resume its war against Hamas if the militant group does not go ahead with the next scheduled release of hostages on Saturday.

Hamas accuses Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement, including by not allowing a surge of tents and shelters into the devastated territory. US President Donald Trump threatened that “all hell” would break out if the militant group did not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Saturday.

At the White House, Trump is hosting Jordan’s King Abdullah II as he escalates pressure on the key US ally to take in refugees from Gaza — perhaps permanently — as part of his audacious plan to remake the Middle East. Palestinians and the international community have seethed over Trump’s recent comments that any Palestinians potentially expelled from Gaza would not have a right to return.

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During the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas has committed to freeing a total of 33 hostages captured in its October 7, 2023, attack in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners. The sides have carried out five swaps since January 19, freeing 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners so far.

The war could resume in early March if no agreement is reached on the more complicated second phase of the ceasefire, which calls for the return of all remaining hostages and an indefinite extension of the truce.

AP