Israel has supported an American proposal to expand it -the fire in Gaza by the Muslim Holy Month Ramadan and the Jewish Passo holiday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office Israel said that the US President's proposal accepted Donald TrumpThe Netherlands to the Midden -Oost, Steve Witkoff.
It said: “Israel takes on the plan of the envoy Steve Witkoff of the US president for a temporary ceasefire for the periods of Ramadan that end at the end of March and Passover, the eight-day Jewish Passover that has to be observed in mid-April.”
The first phase of a ceasefish -Fires that came into force on January 19 went on Saturday.
A second phase of that deal would still secure the release of dozens of hostages in Gaza and freeing the road for a more permanent end to the war.
According to the Netanyahu office, Witkoff submitted this temporary extension as a stopgap after he concluded that Israel and Hamas had a negotiating impasse and could not immediately agree on the conditions of a permanent stop -the fire.
It ceases -the fires, mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, finished 15 months of war that broke out after the attack of Hamas 2023 in South Israel in which around 1,200 people were killed. About 250 people were held hostage.
On the first day of Witkoff's proposal, half of the hostages in Gaza, both alive and death, will be released, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that Israel accepted a proposal to expand it -fires in Gaza
It came from the envoy of US President Donald Trump to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff
People hold Israeli flags as a convoy with the coffins of Shiri, 32, and her two children KFIR, 9 months old, and Ariel, 4, from the Bibas family, which were abducted from their home in Kibbutz
It added that the remaining hostages are also released after a permanent cease -the fire had agreed.
Witkoff made the proposal to extend the current -furen after he realized that more time was needed for conversations about a permanent cease -the fire.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem earlier on Saturday said that the group of Israëls 'formulation' of expanding the first phase of ceases -the Furen in Gaza rejected, but did not explicitly mention the Witkoff plan.
The Netanyahu office said that Israel would immediately conduct negotiations on Witkoff's plan if Hamas agreed.
“According to the agreement, Israel can return to fighting after the 42nd day if it is of the opinion that the negotiations are not effective,” said Netanyahu's office, and accuses Hamas of violating the deal.
Both parties have exchanged allegations of violating the ceasefire.
Two Palestinian officials who are familiar with the negotiations told Reuters that Israel refused to enter or start the second phase of the agreement.
Palestinians gather around a fire, in the midst of a ceasefish -the Fires between Israel and Hamas, in the Jabalia refugee camp, Northern Gaza Strip, 26 February 2025
The rubble of destroyed buildings is seen in the midst of a cease -the fire between Israel and Hamas, in the Jabalia refugee camp, Northern Gaza Strip, 26 February 2025
Instead, Israel asked for an extension of the first phase, conditioned to the transfer of a number of living prisoners and bodies for each week of extension.
Hamas, however, rejected and insisted to adhere to the agreement, to enter the second phase and to submit Israel for what had been agreed.
On Saturday, the armed wing of Hamas posted a video with Israeli hostages who are still in the custody in Gaza and emphasized that the remaining hostages can only be liberated by a Swap -deal as stated -the -fire agreement that started on January 19.
There are conversations about the cessation -the fire, the most recently in Cairo, but have not led to an agreement.
