Israel has killed key weapons dealer Mohammed Mahdi Ali Shaheen as phase one of the ceasefire approaches deadline and war looms once more.

And there are increasing fears for the ceasefire whose second phase has not been agreed even in the hours counting down to phase one coming to an end. The ceasefire’s phase one was penned for 42 days and that comes to an end at some time on Saturday, with mounting pressure to extend it or start phase two. If the two sides fail to agree the war is likely to explode again, threatening a wider conflict in the once more.

Shaheen, responsible for the cross-border buying weapons from was hit in the Hermel area of Lebanon, it was revealed today. He was a senior member of the terror group's Geographical Unit and was a middleman who conducted deals to purchase weapons and transport them to Hezbollah units. It comes in the aftermath of the funeral of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah this week and amid Hezbollah’s bid to regroup after so many fighters have been killed.

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said his death was ordered because he was a “threat to the State of Israel and constituted a violation of the understanding between Israel and Lebanon.” It was referring to an agreement to end the war, which was sparked by the Gaza conflict. Israel withdrew its troops from much of the border area earlier this month, but left five outlooking posts inside Lebanon as Lebanese officials called it a violation of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire starting on November 27.

As phase one of the Gaza ceasefire ends Hamas called for pressure on Israel to enter a second phase “without delay.” The terror group said: "We call on the international community to pressure the Zionist occupation - Israel- to fully commit to its role in the agreement and immediately enter the second phase of the agreement without any delay or prevarication.” Palestinian health authorities say Israel's war on Gaza has killed more than 48,000 people, with many victims being women, children or older people.

The conflict was sparked by a brutal Hamas surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023, in which 1200 were killed and 250 kidnapped and taken back to Gaza. Hamas handed over the remains of another four hostages on Thursday and Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of the ceasefire agreement. It was the last exchange planned under phase one of the halt in the war but Israel and Hamas have not yet agreed to the next.

It is believed mediators are in Egypt thrashing out the next move- otherwise war could resume with dozens of hostages left in Gaza. In all 33 Israelis were freed in phase one, including eight who were killed in captivity or during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Five Thai hostages were freed separately.