This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service.

I'm Nick Miles, and in the early hours of Wednesday the 12th of February, these are our main

stories. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the Gaza ceasefire deal will end

if Hamas does not free hostages by Saturday. Mr. Netanyahu added that intense fighting would also resume.

King Abdullah of Jordan has told President Trump

that his country would take thousands of sick children from Gaza.

In other news, the author Salman Rushdie has testified

at the trial in New York State

of a man accused of attempting

to murder him.

Also in this podcast.

It's a great relief.

It's been very difficult, but we're all here.

We're all together and we're looking forward to healing.

Washington says it secured the release of a US school teacher

who had been held in Russia for four years.

We speak to his sister.

Israel and Hamas are midway through the first stage of a fragile cease farm.

So far, 16 Israeli hostages have been

released in exchange for more than 500 Palestinian prisoners and other exchanges due to take place

on Saturday. But all that has been thrown into question. Hamas said they may delay the release

because of what they said were Israeli violations of the agreement.

...