Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that Israel might not withdraw all of its forces from Lebanon by a deadline set in its ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Israel’s enemies across the region have been badly weakened during 15 months of war. Israeli hostages have begun to come home from captivity in Gaza, and Netanyahu’s good friend, Donald Trump , is back in the White House.

In a speech as Israel awaited the release of the first hostages on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu said both president Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the president-elect, had promised him Israel had the right to resume the fighting “in new ways and with very great power” if Hamas violated the deal.

The Israeli prime minister has to navigate complicated domestic politics with his aim of destroying Hamas and the need to keep the US on side.

Officials close to the matter told ABC News on Sunday that a high-level Israeli delegation led by the head of the Mossad -- David Barnea -- arrived in Doha, Qatar, for a critical round of talks.

Rubio said the US will continue to work “tirelessly” to help free the remaining hostages in Gaza. Read more at straitstimes.com.

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call on Sunday to discuss the ongoing ceasefire and hostage release negotiations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to reiterate Washington's support for its ally, and the two also discussed Iran and Israeli hostages in Gaza,

Israeli forces will remain in parts of southern Lebanon beyond the agreed deadline to leave on Sunday, said Benjamin Netanyahu, throwing the ceasefire deal with Hezbollah into crisis.Under the deal, which came into effect on 27 November,

(AP) — Hamas announced Friday the names of the next four hostages it plans to release this weekend as part of a fragile ceasefire deal with Israel that has paused the war in Gaza. There was no immediate confirmation of the names from Israel.

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to withdraw from southern Lebanon, but Israel says that Hezbollah hasn’t upheld its promise and that the Lebanese Army isn’t ready to fill the void.