Israel has agreed to a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza during the holy periods of Ramadan and Passover. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced the decision early Sunday, marking a potential step toward easing tensions in the region.
Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, began on Friday and will continue until March 30, while the Jewish festival of Passover will be observed from April 12 to 20.
Under the proposal put forward by U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, approximately half of the 59 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would be returned on the first day of the extended ceasefire. The remaining hostages would be released if a permanent ceasefire agreement is reached by the end of the outlined period.
The Israeli statement indicated that Witkoff suggested extending the ceasefire after assessing that bridging the parties’ positions to end the conflict was challenging at this stage, necessitating more time for negotiations toward a lasting peace.
“While Israel has agreed to the Witkoff outline to return our hostages, Hamas has so far refused to accept this proposal,” the statement said. “If Hamas changes its position, Israel will immediately engage in negotiations on all the details of the Witkoff outline.”
The statement also emphasized that Israel reserves the right to resume military operations if it deems the negotiations ineffective, as the initial 42-day phase of the ceasefire and hostage agreement expired on Saturday.
Hamas has not yet issued an official response to the proposed ceasefire extension.
The temporary ceasefire aims to provide a respite for civilians during significant religious periods and could pave the way for more comprehensive peace talks if both parties come to an agreement.
