The Israeli government has approved a six-week extension of the Gaza ceasefire, covering both the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the decision shortly after the first phase of the previously agreed ceasefire expired at midnight on Saturday. According to the statement, the extension is based on a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff. Under this plan, Hamas would release half of the remaining hostages—both alive and deceased—on the first day, while the rest would be freed only if a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached.
Hamas has not publicly responded to Israel’s decision.
The Israeli cabinet approved the extension following a four-hour meeting led by Netanyahu. His office claimed that Hamas “has so far refused” to accept the Witkoff proposal but reiterated that Israel is prepared to negotiate immediately if the group changes its stance. The plan also states that Israel could resume military operations after 42 days if it determines that negotiations for a second phase have failed.
On Friday night, Hamas insisted it would not agree to an extension without guarantees from American, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators that phase two of the ceasefire would take place. The group appears intent on maintaining its presence in Gaza, though it may be open to ceding daily governance to other Palestinian actors, including the Palestinian Authority in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to the BBC’s Paul Adams.
The initial ceasefire, which began on January 19, halted 15 months of fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces. During this period, 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages were exchanged for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, negotiations for the next phase—focused on the release of all remaining living hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza—have made little progress.
Currently, 24 hostages are believed to be alive, while 39 others are presumed dead. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded with an air and ground offensive in Gaza, where at least 48,365 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
