Israel approves temporary extension of Gaza ceasefire
ReutersThe Israeli government approved a temporary extension of the Gaza ceasefire in the next six weeks, covering the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office made the announcement shortly after the first phase of the previously agreed ceasefire expired at midnight on Saturday.
Hamas’s hostages still in Gaza will be issued on the first day under the ceasefire proposal by Steve Witkoff, the envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The remaining hostages will be released “if a permanent ceasefire is reached.”
Hamas has not publicly commented on Israel’s latest move.
The Israeli government supported the ceasefire extension after a four-hour meeting in Netanyahu.
The Prime Minister’s Office claimed Hamas “refused so far” to support the Witkoff program, adding that if the group changes its position, Israel will start negotiations immediately.
The plan of the U.S. envoy envisions that if Israel believes that the second phase of negotiations fail, Israel can return to the battle in 42 days.
Hamas said on Friday night that the second phase would eventually happen without the assurances of the US, Katari and Egyptian mediators.
Hamas seems determined to remain a force in Gaza, even if it may be willing to hand over daily governance to other Palestinian actors, Paul Adams of the BBC reported that included Palestinian authorities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
EPA-EFE/REX/shutterstockThe first phase of the ceasefire, which came into effect on January 19, expired on Saturday.
It stopped 15 months of fighting between Hamas and the Israeli military, allowing the release of 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages, with about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
However, negotiations in the second phase, including the release of all remaining hostages and the evacuation of Israeli forces from Gaza, hardly began.
It is believed that 24 hostages are still alive and 39 others are dead.
Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and hijacking 251 hostages.
According to the Hamas-ruling Ministry of Health in the region, Israel responded to air and ground movements in the Gaza Strip, during which at least 48,365 people were killed.
