The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on Sunday said Israel will adopt the proposal by the US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for the Ramadan and Passover periods.
The PM’s office stated that on the first day of Witkoff’s proposal, half of the hostages held in Gaza, both alive and dead, will be released, adding that the remaining hostages will also be released after a permanent ceasefire was agreed.
Netanyahu’s office added that Witkoff made the proposal to extend the current ceasefire after realizing more time was needed for talks on a permanent ceasefire.
According to Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem earlier on Saturday, the group rejected Israel’s formulation of extending the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, but did not explicitly mention Witkoff’s plan.
Netanyahu’s office further stated that Israel would immediately conduct negotiations on Witkoff’s plan if Hamas agreed to it.
“According to the agreement, Israel can return to fighting after the 42nd day if it feels that the negotiations are ineffective,” Netanyahu’s office said.
Two Palestinian officials familiar with the negotiation said that Israel refused to enter the second phase of the agreement or start negotiations about it.
Instead, Israel requested an extension of the first phase, conditioned on the handover of a number of alive prisoners and bodies for each week of extension.
Hamas, however, rejected and insisted on adhering to the agreement, entering the second phase, and obliging Israel to what was agreed upon.
