Israel accepts the proposal of US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during Ramadan and Passover, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced just hours after the first phase of the previously agreed cessation of hostilities expired, Reuters reported.
On the first day, according to the plan proposed by Witkoff, half of the hostages held in Gaza - both alive and dead - will be released. The remaining hostages will be released once a permanent ceasefire is agreed, the office said.
Witkoff proposed extending the current ceasefire after realizing that more time was needed to negotiate a permanent ceasefire, the office added. Yesterday, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that the Palestinian group rejected Israel's "formulation" for extending the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire, but did not specifically mention Witkoff's plan.
Netanyahu's office said that Israel would immediately begin negotiations on Witkoff's plan if Hamas accept it.
"Under the agreement, Israel can resume hostilities after the 42nd day if it deems the negotiations ineffective," Netanyahu's office said, claiming that "Hamas" was violating the agreement. Both sides have accused each other of violating the agreements.
A ceasefire deal reached in January ended 15 months of fighting, allowing 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais to be exchanged for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It envisaged further negotiations to extend the ceasefire agreement.
Representatives of Israel, Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been participating in talks in the Egyptian capital Cairo in recent days, with Egyptian and Qatari mediators presenting the Hamas position.
A member of the Islamist movement's political bureau, Bassem Naim, said yesterday that the latest round of talks on the second phase of the truce between Israel and Hamas had made no progress.
The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on Friday evening with the sighting of the new moon, and yesterday was the first day of fasting in most countries in the Middle East. The Jewish holiday of Passover this year is celebrated between April 12 and 19, TASS recalls.
The US authorities will accelerate the delivery of military aid to Israel in the amount of about $ 4 billion, said in a statement published on Saturday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“I have signed a declaration on the use of emergency powers to accelerate the delivery of about $ 4 billion in military aid to Israel“, the message said. It is also emphasized that this order repeals restrictions imposed by the administration of former US President Joe Biden on the supply of certain types of weapons to Israel.
As indicated in the statement, the administration of US President Donald Trump has approved sales of weapons and military equipment to Israel totaling $ 12 billion from January 20, 2025.