Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed his negotiation team to continue discussions on the release of hostages. This decision comes after US special envoy Steve Wiccoff proposed the release of 11 surviving hostages. Israel has stated that half of the living captives should be freed by mid-April, during the Passover holiday ceasefire extension. Hamas, in return, has proposed extending the ceasefire and releasing additional Palestinian detainees in exchange for the last surviving Israeli-American hostage, Edan Alexander, along with the bodies of four other Israeli-American dual nationals. However, both Israel and the US have rejected the proposal.

The United States and Israel have reportedly initiated talks with the governments of Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland about forcibly displacing Palestinians. In February, former US President Donald Trump announced a plan to ‘occupy’ Gaza and transform it into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East,’ with Palestinians being expelled from the region. Egypt, however, has rejected this plan and proposed a $53 billion alternative reconstruction initiative for Gaza, which has been backed by Arab leaders.

At least nine people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahia, Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Saturday that critically injured victims were transported to the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza. The Israeli military stated that their attack targeted two Palestinians who allegedly launched a drone posing a threat to Israeli forces. Later, additional Palestinians gathered drone equipment and entered a vehicle, which was then struck. CNN reported that this is the deadliest attack since the first phase of the ceasefire took effect in January.

Families of Israeli hostages have issued a stern warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring that they will not allow him to sabotage the Hamas ceasefire deal or turn Gaza’s tunnels into their children’s graves. They have called for protests in front of the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, accusing Netanyahu of threatening a new war, violating the ceasefire agreement, and endangering the hostages’ lives. According to Israeli sources, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, at least 22 of whom are confirmed to be alive.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues its attacks on Gaza, killing at least 98 Palestinians so far. In the latest airstrike on Gaza City, four Palestinians lost their lives. Meanwhile, Hamas has accused Netanyahu of being afraid to implement the ceasefire successfully, stating that his blockade is causing Israeli residents and prisoners to suffer from starvation. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed a total of 48,525 Palestinians and injured over 100,000 since the war began.

Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, issued a statement saying Hamas is making a grave miscalculation by assuming time is on its side. He warned that if the deadline passes without action, the US and its allies will respond accordingly. Trump has already pledged that Hamas will face ‘severe consequences’ if it fails to release hostages. The US has made it clear that Hamas must immediately release dual US-Israeli citizen Aidan Alexander as part of a temporary ceasefire agreement. However, Hamas continues to insist on a permanent ceasefire deal.

UN human rights experts have accused Israel of committing acts of genocide and using sexual violence as a weapon of war in Gaza. According to their report, Israel has systematically destroyed Palestinian healthcare facilities and imposed birth control measures on Palestinians—actions that fall under the category of genocide as per the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the allegations, calling them biased and anti-Semitic.

Hamas proposed the release of an American-Israeli dual citizen, but Israel has rejected the offer. According to Hamas, they were willing to free 21-year-old Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, a New Jersey resident. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office dismissed the proposal as “manipulation and psychological warfare.” Netanyahu is expected to discuss the situation with his cabinet tomorrow night before deciding on the next course of action.

The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that Armenia is prepared to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan to end ongoing hostilities.

Yerevan and Baku have reportedly agreed on a draft peace deal, and discussions on the time and location for the signing are underway. While both sides have approved the text of the agreement, some key issues remain unresolved.

One major point of contention is the European Union’s monitoring mission in Armenia, which oversees ceasefire violations. A Western official also stated that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is considering not renewing a security agreement, which is set to expire in February 2027.

Following discussions in Riyadh last week, the United States proposed a 30-day temporary ceasefire with Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to the proposal, stating, “We are open to halting the war. However, we aim for this pause to evolve into lasting peace and address the root causes of this conflict.” He further emphasized that any ceasefire must be tied to resolving the fundamental issues that led to the war, adding that more details on the agreement are necessary.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced that its air defense systems had downed 77 Ukrainian drones. The statement mentioned that six drones were shot down in the Kursk region, where Russian forces are in the final phase of expelling Ukrainian troops. Drones were also destroyed in Belgorod, Rostov, and Bryansk regions. The Kremlin claims that Russia’s operation in Kursk is nearing its conclusion, and U.S. negotiators are heading to Moscow.

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have intensified, killing at least eight people, including a child, according to Al Jazeera. The United Nations and various humanitarian organizations have called on Israel to lift its blockade on aid entering Gaza. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli representatives have arrived in Doha for ceasefire negotiations. In response, Hamas has announced the initiation of “a new round of talks” to address the crisis.

Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States following negotiations in Jeddah. The U.S. has also committed to resuming military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The meeting included U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz, along with Ukrainian officials Andriy Sibiga and Andriy Yermak. Russia was not present at the talks. Rubio stated that they hope Russia will also agree to the ceasefire and, if not, it will help identify obstacles to peace. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky has proposed a partial ceasefire over air and sea routes, while the U.S. is pushing for a full cessation of hostilities.

After meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts toward peace. He highlighted that security guarantees for Ukraine were a major topic in their discussion, alongside potential Saudi investments in defense, energy, and infrastructure. Meanwhile, US and Ukrainian delegations have commenced talks in Saudi Arabia, seeking a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow, with dozens of UAVs targeting the Russian capital. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed on Telegram that the defense ministry successfully repelled the attack, shooting down 58 drones. Emergency response teams are working in affected areas. The attack comes ahead of high-level US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia regarding efforts to end the war.