Live: Israel delays release of 602 Palestinian prisoners

Israeli soldiers have shot and killed a Palestinian child in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, reported the Palestinians news agency.

Despite the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli forces have continued to target civilians, at times fatally.

Earlier this week, the Israeli military also carried out an air strike on a vehicle along the Gaza coast, claiming the vehicle was prohibited from using that route.

The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, held a phone conversation with King Abdullah II of Jordan, during which they covered recent developments in Gaza, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Syria, according to the Emiri Diwan.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, along with the Palestinian leadership, has strongly rejected Trump's proposal for the US to take control of Gaza and force Palestinians to leave their land.

In response to US proposals for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, Abbas stated, "We will not allow any harm to the rights of our people, for which we have struggled for decades and paid a heavy price to achieve. These calls are a grave violation of international law, and there will be no peace or stability without a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, within the 1967 borders, based on the two-state solution."

He emphasised that Gaza, alongside the West Bank and East Jerusalem, has been an inseparable part of Palestine since 1967.

Abbas also thanked the Arab nations, particularly Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, for their opposition to the US plan of displacement.

He urged the UN secretary-general and the Security Council to take swift action to protect international decisions and end the Israeli occupation.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed support for the Palestinian Authority to take charge of the Gaza Strip following President Trump’s suggestion for the US to control the area, AFP reported.

In discussions with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, Abdelatty stated that Egypt is keen for the Palestinian Authority to "assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as part of the occupied Palestinian territories" as per a statement from Egypt's foreign ministry.

As the sun sets on southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh, Jamal Sabbagh and his brother try to salvage any belongings they can find from their bombed-out home.

Having rushed back to his hometown the moment the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel was announced in November, Sabbagh still recalls the shock he felt the moment he saw his house.

“When I got there, the door was opened, and the sight in person was very different from what the pictures show,” he told Middle East Eye.

“I stood in silence, looking, thinking, ‘wow, my home...’ It was very emotional.”

With the truce between the two warring sides seeming to hold, despite Israel being accused of hundreds of violations, Sabbagh is one of many Lebanese who now look forward to rebuilding their homes.

Read more: South Lebanon slowly rebuilds as Israel repeatedly violates the ceasefire

Republican Mike Johnson, responding to President Trump’s statement on Twitter about taking control of Gaza, expressed optimism that the plan could provide "much needed stability and security" to the region.

He praised Trump's proposal, stating,"Today, President Trump took bold action in hopes of achieving lasting peace in Gaza," despite widespread criticism of the plan as a form of ethnic cleansing.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesperson, dismissed President Trump's suggestion that the US could take control of Gaza, calling it “ridiculous” and “absurd”.

Speaking to Reuters, he warned that such actions could have dangerous consequences for the Middle East, adding that “any ideas of this kind are capable of igniting the region”.

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to an independent Palestinian state on Tuesday, stating that normalising relations with Israel would be contingent on its establishment.

The announcement came shortly after US President Donald Trump suggested relocating all Palestinians from Gaza and placing the territory under American control.

In a statement released early on Wednesday, the Saudi Foreign Ministry underscored the kingdom’s “firm and unwavering” stance on Palestinian statehood, contradicting Trump’s claim that Saudi Arabia was not making such a demand.

China’s Foreign Ministry has voiced opposition to the forced displacement of Gaza’s residents and reaffirmed its support for Palestinian sovereignty over its land.

The Islamic Jihad Movement slamed US President Donald Trump’s comments on Palestinian displacement, stating that despite 15 months of airstrikes using American-made weapons, Palestinians have remained steadfast, Al Jazeera Arabic reported.

The group emphasised that resistance has always been an option for the Palestinian people, a struggle they have upheld for over a century—long before Trump and continuing beyond his time.

Palestinian American comedian and activist Amer Zahr has criticised mainstream Democrats for failing to hold former President Joe Biden accountable for his unwavering support of Israel.

While many Democratic lawmakers and liberal commentators have been quick to denounce Trump’s remarks on Gaza, Zahr pointed out that Biden has provided Israel with both diplomatic backing and billions in aid, enabling the widespread destruction of Palestinian territory.

“It’s nice to see liberals and Democrats finally clutching at their pearls at the notion of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, which Israel has been undertaking since 1948, with the full-throated support and funding of the United States,” Zahr told Al Jazeera.

“I guess it must just sound more deplorable when President Trump says it.”

Egypt will not be swayed to take in Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, US officials in the region have told the White House in recent days as they brace for the Trump administration to ramp up pressure on Cairo, Middle East Eye can reveal.

Trump has also said that Jordan will take in Palestinians ahead of King Abdullah II’s visit to Washington next week.

The growing divide between diplomats and the White House has heightened tensions, pitting President Donald Trump and his closest advisers against career diplomats in the region, who are ferrying messages to Arab officials.

In the case of Egypt, US officials warned the White House that the controversial proposal could destabilise a close ally and that Egypt would not be susceptible to financial incentives, a senior US diplomat in the region told MEE.

The notion that Palestinians can be moved to Egypt, Jordan or any third country is widely regarded as ethnic cleansing of the besieged enclave and would likely violate international law.

Read more: White House ignores State Department pleas as it calls for Palestinians to go to Egypt

Following Donald Trump’s remarks about US control and redevelopment of Gaza after removing its Palestinian population, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated his support for the proposal.

Posting on X, Rubio wrote, “Gaza MUST BE FREE from Hamas,” echoing Trump’s stance.

“As @POTUS shared today, the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again,” he added. “Our pursuit is one of lasting peace in the region for all people.”

Two weeks after their release from captivity, five female soldiers held by Hamas have requested to resume their service in the Israeli military, the Jersalem Posr reported.

Their decision reportedly came as a surprise to their families. However, the Israeli army has stated that it is too soon for their return, emphasising that they need time to recover after spending more than a year in captivity.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to comment directly on Donald Trump's remarks about "taking over" and "levelling" Gaza. Speaking to reporters, he instead reaffirmed Australia’s longstanding support for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

“Australia’s position remains unchanged—today, last year, and a decade ago,” he said.

He also emphasised that Australia has consistently backed a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.