Israel has agreed to a temporary cessation -furen -expansion of President Donald Trump’s Purification in the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, for the period around Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passo, said the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening.
The news came when the first temporary cessation -the -fire agreement at midnight Local time.
The Netanyahu office said that the temporary expansion of cease -the fires had agreed after they realized that more time was needed to find a permanent cease -the -fire solution.
Under the extension proposal, half of the hostages and the remains of dead hostages that are still released in Gaza will be released, with the remaining released once a permanent ceases has been determined.
The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, meets the American envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, in Jerusalem. (Ma’ayan Toaf, GPO)
“According to the agreement, Israel Kan Return to fighting after the 42nd day if it is of the opinion that the negotiations are not effective, “Netanyahu’s office noted about the first temporary cease -the Fire Phase one.
Hamas has so far been established in his refusal of this framework “that is necessary for a permanent cessation -the fire, said Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post. Hamas has made similar accusations against Israel.
Veroten Israeli hostages OHAD Ben Ami, Left, Eli Sharabi and or Levy, who have been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza since 7 October 2023, are brought to a stage by terrorists before they are transferred to the Red Cross in Deir Al-Balah in the Central Gaza Strip, 8 February 2025. (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)
“Israel will immediately negotiate all the details of the framework of Witkoff,” if Hamas agrees, the Israeli government said.
If no new cessation -the proximity has been agreed, fighting will resume on Sundays.
Witkoff’s proposal said: “There is no possibility to bridge the gaps between the positions of the parties to end the war and that extra time is needed for negotiations about a permanent stop -the fire,” De Post reported.
Hamas terrorists gather to view the transfer of three Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team in Deir El-Balah, Central Gaza, 8 February 2025. (Majdi Fathi/Nurphoto via Getty Images)
A total of 38 hostages were released during the 42-day cease-fire phase one that started in mid-January in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
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Reuters reported that Hamas posted a video on Saturday that hostages staying in Gaza will only be released via another swap for Palestinian prisoners, who was part of the original framework of the phase -fire agreement.
Current permanent cessation -the -fire -conversations that are mainly held in Cairo are stuck.
Reuters has contributed to this report.
