The Israeli government has approved a temporary six-week extension of the Gaza ceasefire, covering both the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods. The decision was announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s office shortly after the initial ceasefire phase ended at midnight on Saturday.
US-Backed Ceasefire Proposal
Under a ceasefire plan proposed by US envoy Steve Witkoff, Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages—both alive and deceased—on the first day of the new agreement. The remaining hostages would only be freed if a permanent ceasefire deal is reached. However, Hamas has not yet publicly responded to Israel’s latest move.
Hamas’ Demands and Conditions
On Friday night, Hamas stated that it would not agree to an extension of phase one without assurances from American, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators that phase two would follow. The group appears determined to maintain its influence in Gaza, even if it agrees to transfer day-to-day governance to other Palestinians, including the Palestinian Authority in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israeli Government’s Position
The Israeli government approved the ceasefire extension after a four-hour meeting led by Netanyahu. His office claimed that Hamas had “so far refused” to support the Witkoff plan but stated that Israel is ready to negotiate if Hamas changes its stance. The US-backed plan allows Israel to resume fighting after 42 days if negotiations on phase two fail.
Background of the Conflict
The first phase of the ceasefire, which began on January 19, ended on Saturday. This ceasefire temporarily halted 15 months of conflict between Hamas and the Israeli military. It facilitated the exchange of 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
However, discussions on phase two, which would involve the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, have made little progress.
Currently, it is believed that 24 hostages are alive, while another 39 are presumed dead.
The situation remains tense, with negotiations and military actions continuing to shape the region’s future.
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