Israel extends Gaza ceasefire for six weeks amid Ramadan

Express Tribune

02-03-2025

Israeli army soldiers walk during a military operation in the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees in the north of the occupied West Bank on February 3, 2025. Photo: AFPIsraeli army soldiers walk during a military operation in the Jenin camp for Palestinian refugees in the north of the occupied West Bank on February 3, 2025. Photo: PHOTO: AFP
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The Israeli government has approved a temporary extension of the ceasefire in Gaza for the next six weeks, covering both the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods.
The decision comes shortly after the first phase of the ceasefire, agreed upon earlier, expired at midnight on Saturday.
The extension announcement was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, which said the proposal was part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Under the plan, half of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza – both alive and deceased – would be released on the first day.
The remaining hostages would be freed if an agreement for a permanent ceasefire is reached.
In a statement, Netanyahu's office claimed that Hamas had 'so far refused' to support the Witkoff plan but stated that Israel would be ready to resume negotiations if Hamas changed its position. The ceasefire extension followed a four-hour meeting convened by Netanyahu, during which the Israeli government reaffirmed its position.
The US envoy's plan includes a 42-day window for Israel to return to fighting if it believes negotiations on a second phase have failed.
However, Hamas has stated that it remains firm on implementing the second phase of the ceasefire following Israel's approval of a temporary extension of the initial phase.
'The only path to achieving stability in the region and ensuring the return of prisoners is to fully implement the agreement, beginning with the second phase,' Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi told AFP in a statement.
On Friday night, Hamas made it clear that it would not agree to any extension without guarantees from American, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators that phase two would be implemented.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which came into effect on 19 January, halted 15 months of fighting between Hamas and Israel. It led to the release of 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
However, negotiations for phase two, which would involve the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, have barely begun.
It is believed that 24 hostages are still alive, while another 39 are presumed to be dead.