Fragile Truce on Edge as Israel and Hamas Prepare for Hostage Exchange

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Israel and Hamas are set to execute a fifth hostage-prisoner swap on Saturday, despite rising tensions stemming from former U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial proposal for a U.S. takeover of Gaza. An Israeli advocacy group urged the government to maintain the fragile ceasefire as anticipation builds over the exchange's details, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Since the ceasefire's inception on January 19, 2025, Hamas has released 18 hostages in return for approximately 600 Palestinian inmates. The ceasefire, facilitated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, aims to secure the release of 33 hostages within its first 42 days. However, ongoing discussions over the swap's particulars remain unclear.

Meanwhile, Trump's statement, advocating a U.S. occupation of Gaza, has triggered backlash across the Middle East, prompting Hamas to label it "absolutely unacceptable." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for the idea, asserting its potential as "the first original idea to be raised in years." Following this, Israeli officials have begun preparing for the "voluntary" relocation of Gazans, a move that may undermine ongoing peace efforts, as cautioned by Egyptian mediators.

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