Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country retained the 'right to return to fighting if needed' in Gaza.

Israel's prime minister says his country is ready to go back to war in Gaza if negotiations for a second phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas collapses.

The ceasefire as agreed to in Qatar is set to last 42 days. Over that period, 33 hostages are expected to be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, there will be a slow withdrawal of the Israeli military from urban centers in Gaza and a surge of humanitarian aid.

Netanyahu's "fear of Trump is greater than his fear of his extreme right-wing coalition partners," Israeli expert told Newsweek.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday that the ceasefire in Gaza will not begin until Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released from Hamas.

Benjamin Netanyahu halts Gaza ceasefire over Hamas hostage list delay - The Israeli Prime Minister halted the truce an hour before its planned start

Netanyahu said he will convene with his Security Cabinet on Friday and the Israeli government will then approve the agreement, AP reports.

Israel's prime minister has been accused of prioritizing his own political survival and the unity of his fractious right-wing Cabinet over bringing the hostages home.

Envoy Steve Witkoff, carrying a message from Donald Trump, broke through the impasse in long-futile cease-fire talks.

The cease-fire-for-hostage deal is scheduled to go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time Sunday, Qatari officials announced earlier Saturday.

Long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is due to begin at 630am GMT on Sunday – but hostages’ families and Palestinians all fear the deal could fall at the final hurdle