Israel Supports Plan to Extend Ceasefire in Gaza Until the End of Ramadan

Israel Supports Plan to Extend Ceasefire in Gaza Until the End of Ramadan

Jerusalem — Israel announced on Sunday that it has endorsed a proposal to extend the ceasefire in Gaza, which will act as a bridging measure after the first phase concludes. The proposal, put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, is applicable for the duration of Ramadan (which will end in late March) and Passover (lasting until mid-April).

After the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came to an end, there was no certainty about the next phase. This plan, aimed at progressing toward a permanent resolution to the Gaza war, is still under discussion. However, the fate of 251 hostages in Gaza and the lives of more than two million Palestinians remain in jeopardy.

According to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, under the extension, 50% of the hostages in Gaza will be released on the first day of the agreement, with the remaining hostages to be released upon reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement.

There has been no immediate response from Hamas, although they previously rejected the idea of an extension.

Following this development, the international community and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have warned against the resumption of war in Gaza and have called for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages.