Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ended a controversial system that paid stipends to the families of Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted in deadly attacks on Israel. The step is aimed at improving relations with the new administration of President Donald Trump.

Hamas on Monday announced it would stop releasing Israeli hostages until further notice over what the Palestinian militant group called Israeli violations of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, raising the risk of reigniting the conflict.

Hamas announced on Monday it is suspending the next release of hostages planned for Saturday until further notice and claimed Israel violated the ceasefire agreement. Why it matters: A delay in releasing the hostages would itself be a clear violation of the Gaza ceasefire deal and could lead to its collapse and the resumption of the war.