Israel approves extension of Gaza ceasefire

The Israeli government has approved a six-week extension of the temporary ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, encompassing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover. This decision was announced by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after the previously agreed-upon first-phase ceasefire expired on Saturday at midnight, aiming to provide a period of relative calm.

Netanyahu's office stated that, according to the ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, half of the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip—including both the living and the deceased—would be released on the first day. The remaining hostages would be released "after a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached," paving the way for a more lasting resolution.

The Israeli government decided to support the extension of the ceasefire agreement after a four-hour meeting convened by Netanyahu. The Prime Minister's office claimed that Hamas has "so far refused" to support Witkoff's plan, adding that Israel would immediately begin negotiations if the group changed its position. The U.S. envoy's plan envisions that fighting could resume after 42 days if Israel believes that the second phase of negotiations has failed, outlining a potential timeline for future actions.

According to BBC's Jerusalem correspondent Paul Adams, Hamas appears determined to maintain its influence in the Gaza Strip, even though it may be willing to cede day-to-day governance to other Palestinian actors, including the Palestinian Authority in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas had previously stated that it would not agree to extend the first-phase ceasefire without guarantees from U.S., Qatari, and Egyptian mediators that the second phase could eventually proceed, highlighting the importance of external assurances for continued cooperation.

The first-phase ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19 and expired on Saturday. The agreement halted 15 months of fighting between Hamas and Israeli forces, allowing for the release of 33 Israeli hostages and 5 Thai hostages in exchange for approximately 1900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, negotiations regarding the second phase, including the release of all remaining living hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, have barely begun. It is believed that 24 hostages remain alive, while another 39 are presumed dead. Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1200 people and taking another 251 hostage. Israel responded with airstrikes and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, which, according to the territory's Hamas-controlled health ministry, have killed at least 48365 people, resulting in a devastating humanitarian crisis.