Israel has begun mobilising military reservists as tensions rise over a looming deadline for Hamas to free Israeli hostages. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that failure to release captives by Saturday will lead to renewed conflict.
Israel has begun calling up military reservists, bracing for a possible return to war in Gaza if Hamas fails to release hostages by Saturday, the agreed deadline under the ceasefire deal.
Concerns over the truce’s collapse have grown as outrage spreads in the Arab world over Trump’s proposal to take control of Gaza, relocate Palestinian residents, and develop an international beach resort.
Hamas, which previously agreed to release three more hostages on Saturday, has halted the process, accusing Israel of breaking the ceasefire terms. Trump responded with a stern ultimatum: “All hostages must be freed by noon on Saturday, or I will let hell break out.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that “if Hamas stops the hostage releases, then there is no ceasefire—there is war.” He said renewed fighting would be “of another intensity altogether” and would bring Trump’s Gaza plan into reality.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Katz’s warning, saying Israel would resume “intense fighting” if Hamas failed to meet the deadline. However, he did not specify how many hostages must be freed.
The Israeli military has begun deploying additional troops to the south and activating reservists in preparation for potential action in Gaza. Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to be “ready for all scenarios.”
At the White House, Trump asked Jordan’s King Abdullah to ensure Hamas understands the severity of the situation.
Residents in Gaza fear that renewed fighting will make the humanitarian crisis even worse. “We had barely started believing that a truce would happen and that a solution was on the way,” said Lotfy Abu Taha, a resident of Rafah. “The people are suffering. The people are the victims.”
The armed wing of Hamas ally Islamic Jihad warned that the fate of Israeli hostages was now directly tied to Netanyahu’s decisions. “The only way to retrieve hostages and for stability to return is through a swap deal,” a spokesperson said.
Anger over Trump’s vision for Gaza is growing. Two Egyptian security officials said that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi would not travel to Washington if discussions included the U.S. plan to relocate Palestinians. Egypt’s presidency has not commented on the matter.
Britain's King Charles is resuming public duties this week after a brief hospital visit due to side effects from his cancer treatment. Following a restful weekend, he is preparing for a regular working week at Windsor Castle, with some appointments rescheduled ahead of his state visit to Italy.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his upcoming reciprocal tariffs will apply to all nations, rather than just targeting the 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade imbalances. Trump plans to unveil the tariff package on Wednesday, calling it “Liberation Day.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning that such a move would bring serious repercussions.
Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has warned of public unrest if elections are not held by December, following remarks from interim leader Muhammad Yunus suggesting a possible delay until 2026.
Over 300,000 Canadians were left without power on Sunday as a severe ice storm battered parts of Ontario, according to electricity provider Hydro One. The storm brought freezing rain and ice pellets over the weekend, with power outages continuing into Monday morning in some regions.
President Trump confirmed he is serious about a potential third term, despite constitutional limits, saying it is “far too early” to decide. While U.S. presidents are restricted to two terms, Trump allies are exploring ways to challenge this rule ahead of the 2028 election.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
Paul Marchant has resigned as CEO of Primark with immediate effect after admitting to an "error of judgment" in a social interaction last year. Parent company AB Foods expressed disappointment, citing the importance of integrity. Finance director Eoin Tonge will serve as interim CEO.
Abu Dhabi will host International Jazz Day 2025, featuring a star-studded gala at Etihad Arena on April 30. Broadcast worldwide, the event will showcase top jazz, blues, and classical artists, including Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing 2056 people and leaving 3,900 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
Iran has readied missiles capable of striking U.S.-related positions, responding to President Trump's escalating threats of military action if Tehran does not agree to his terms for a new nuclear agreement.
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan's presidents signed a protocol ratifying a border agreement in Khujand, Tajikistan. They also inaugurated a 500 kV power line under CASA-1000, enhancing regional electricity trade. Their meeting preceded a trilateral summit with Uzbekistan's president.
President Trump confirmed he is serious about a potential third term, despite constitutional limits, saying it is “far too early” to decide. While U.S. presidents are restricted to two terms, Trump allies are exploring ways to challenge this rule ahead of the 2028 election.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
Paul Marchant has resigned as CEO of Primark with immediate effect after admitting to an "error of judgment" in a social interaction last year. Parent company AB Foods expressed disappointment, citing the importance of integrity. Finance director Eoin Tonge will serve as interim CEO.
Abu Dhabi will host International Jazz Day 2025, featuring a star-studded gala at Etihad Arena on April 30. Broadcast worldwide, the event will showcase top jazz, blues, and classical artists, including Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller.
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