Drone strike kills two as Gaza ceasefire standoff continues

Local Palestinian medical authorities on Friday said an Israeli drone strike killed at least two people in Gaza, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding a fragile ceasefire deal that has halted fighting in the enclave for weeks.
According to the Israeli military, the drone struck a group of suspected militants operating near its troops in northern Gaza and planting an explosive device in the ground but gave no details on casualties.
The military, under new army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, has reportedly made preparations for a return to war in Gaza if no agreement can be reached with Hamas on extending the 42-day ceasefire agreed upon last month.
However, with an upcoming visit from U.S. President Donald Trump’s special Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, who has held direct talks with Hamas, there has been no indication that Israel has given up on continuing the ceasefire.
A delegation from Hamas arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators who have been helping facilitate discussions along with officials from Qatar, aiming to proceed to the next stage of the deal, which could open the way to ending the war.
In an apparent effort to pressure Israel, Hamas released a video showing Israeli soldier Matan Angrest, one of 59 Israeli and foreign hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.
Despite a number of hiccups, the ceasefire has largely held since January 19, allowing the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
However, it remains unclear whether talks to release the remaining hostages and complete the Israeli withdrawal will proceed, despite pressure from Trump, who has demanded that Hamas hand over all those still held or face devastating consequences.
Israel has demanded the return of its hostages and an extension of the truce through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan until after the Jewish Passover holiday in April.
Drone strike kills two as Gaza ceasefire standoff continues