Israel says it agrees to U.S. plan for extending 1st phase of Gaza ceasefire
Hamas has been pushing for adherence to original timetable, entering 2nd phase
Israel will adopt the proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza for the Ramadan and Passover periods, the prime minister's office said early Sunday, hours after the first phase of the previously agreed ceasefire was set to expire.
On the first day of Witkoff's proposal, half of the hostages held in Gaza, both alive and dead, will be released, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, adding that the remaining hostages will also be released after a permanent ceasefire is reached.
Witkoff made the proposal to extend the current ceasefire after realizing more time was needed for talks on a permanent ceasefire, Netanyahu's office said.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem earlier on Saturday said the group rejected Israel's "formulation" of extending the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza but did not explicitly mention Witkoff's plan.
Netanyahu's office said Israel would immediately conduct negotiations on Witkoff's plan if Hamas agreed to it.
"According to the agreement, Israel can return to fighting after the 42nd day if it feels that the negotiations are ineffective," Netanyahu's office also said, accusing Hamas of violating the deal. Both sides have been trading accusations of violating the deal.
Two Palestinian officials familiar with the talks told Reuters that Israel refused to enter the second phase of the agreement or start negotiations about it.
Instead, Israel requested an extension of the first phase, conditional on the handover of a number of living prisoners and bodies for each week of the extension.
Hamas, however, rejected the plan and insisted on sticking to the agreement, entering the second phase and requiring Israel to adhere to what was agreed upon.
On Saturday, Hamas's armed wing posted a video showing Israeli hostages still in its custody in Gaza and stressed that the remaining hostages can only be freed through a swap deal as stated in the phased ceasefire agreement that began on Jan. 19.
The ceasefire agreement halted 15 months of fighting, allowing the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. It was meant to lead to subsequent talks to build on the ceasefire deal.
Ceasefire talks have been ongoing, most recently in Cairo, but they have not led to an agreement.
Ramadan in Gaza
In Gaza's southern city of Rafah, hundreds came together for the breaking of the day's Ramadan fast, snaking through the ruins under strings of lights as the sky darkened.
The iftar marked a bittersweet moment for war-weary Palestinians.
"We needed something like this" Abu Adi told CBC News. "This is proof that we the Palestinians are united and we won't let go of anything.
"We came back to rubble ... but God willing, with our fingers and hands we will rebuild."
Ali Subh told CBC News that the iftar was an important way for the community to show their "steadfastness" to their land, especially after months of families being separated by the war, but added that they were filled with both happiness and sadness.
"Happiness to be back but sadness that we found our homes destroyed," Subh said. "God willing we will stay here."
With files from The Associated Press and CBC News