Israel has agreed to a ceasefire proposal by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, extending the current truce in Gaza through Ramadan and Passover, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The plan ensures the release of half of the remaining Israeli hostages, both alive and deceased, on the first day, with the rest to follow after a permanent ceasefire is reached.
Netanyahu’s office stated the extension was necessary for ongoing negotiations, with Israel reserving the right to resume military operations after 42 days if talks fail. The decision follows Hamas’s rejection of Israel’s previous extension proposal, which required the gradual release of hostages and detainees. Hamas instead demanded adherence to the original agreement, which stipulated moving to the second phase of negotiations.
Hamas’s armed wing released a video on Saturday showing Israeli hostages still in captivity, reiterating that their release would only occur through a negotiated prisoner exchange. The original ceasefire, effective since January 19, had paused 15 months of conflict, leading to the exchange of 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages for around 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
Talks continue in Cairo, but no new agreements have been reached. Israel and Hamas continue to accuse each other of violating terms, creating uncertainty over whether the truce will hold.