The Times of Israel is liveblogging Tuesday’s events as they happen.

Hamas leaders are bolstering security around themselves over fears that Israel may try to assassinate Politburo members abroad, the Haaretz daily reports, citing Palestinian sources.

Sources also tell Haaretz they worry Israel could launch raids aimed at rescuing hostages.

According to the report, sources say they received conflicting messages in recent hours from countries involved in mediating ceasefire talks regarding the possibility that indirect negotiations with Israel could restart.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that Hamas’s obstinacy was the main hurdle blocking a ceasefire deal, and US President Donald Trump said yesterday that the “fight will have to be a little bit different” given Hamas’s unwillingness to negotiate.

Malta will declare recognition of a Palestinian state during the general assembly of the United Nations in September, Prime Minister Robert Abela says, joining France and possibly the UK.

“Our position reflects our commitment to efforts for a lasting peace in the Middle East,” Abela says in a Facebook post.

The Malta government had been under increasing pressure from within its ranks to recognize a Palestinian state, and the center-right Opposition in mid-July also called for immediate recognition.

The Mediterranean EU island has a history of support for Palestinian causes and has backed efforts for a two-state solution.

Abela first announced plans for recognition of a Palestinian state in May, saying it would take place at a United Nations conference in June, though the conference was postponed until this week.

British polling firm YouGov says nearly half of Britons support recognizing a Palestinian state, based on polling samples collected last week.

According to the survey of 2,013 respondents in Great Britain, 45 percent think the UK should recognize Palestine as a state, as opposed to 14% who oppose the move. Another 41% do not know.

The poll finds that 61% of respondents aged 18-24 support recognition, though the figure drops to 43% for those aged 25-49. Only 4% of those 18-24 oppose recognition.

The results are largely in line with a poll from exactly a year ago, which showed 47% of British respondents supporting the move, part of an overall trend across Europe of increasing backing for recognition. That poll also showed opposition to recognition at 12%.

Government hostage point man Gal Hirsch says on X that he met Thai Ambassador Boonyarit Vichienpuntu in Jerusalem to discuss efforts to free the remaining hostages, with Gaza ceasefire talks at a standstill.

פגשתי היום בירושלים- משרד החוץ את השגריר התאילנדי החדש בישראל........

© The Times of Israel