Israel backs new US ceasefire plan, Hamas silent

By World Israel News Staff

Israel has formally agreed to a temporary ceasefire proposed by US envoy Steve Witkoff, set to last through Ramadan and Passover, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The decision was reached following an extensive four-hour security meeting led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was also attended by Defense Minister Israel Katz, senior defense officials, and the Israeli negotiating team.

Under the terms of the agreement, half of the hostages, both living and deceased, are to be released on the first day of the ceasefire’s implementation. The remaining hostages will be freed at the conclusion of the ceasefire period, provided a permanent ceasefire agreement is successfully negotiated.

However, Hamas has not yet accepted this framework. The Israeli government has made it clear that if Hamas agrees, Israel is prepared to enter immediate negotiations to finalize the specifics of the plan.

The proposal was introduced by Witkoff based on the understanding that, at present, there is no viable path to reconciling the fundamental disagreements between Israel and Hamas regarding the war’s resolution.

The ceasefire is intended to create additional time for negotiations aimed at securing a more lasting agreement.

Despite previous violations of the ceasefire by Hamas, Israel asserts that it has upheld its obligations under the agreement. The current ceasefire framework stipulates that if negotiations fail to yield progress within 42 days, Israel retains the right to resume military operations.

This provision, as emphasized by the Prime Minister’s Office, is backed by a letter from the previous US administration and enjoys the support of the Trump administration.

The security meeting that led to the adoption of Witkoff’s proposal coincided with the expiration of the initial ceasefire deal.

With Ramadan running until March 29 and Passover concluding on April 19, the newly proposed ceasefire is designed to cover both religious observances.

While Israel has not issued a direct threat of renewed hostilities, the agreement does allow for a resumption of fighting at any moment should negotiations prove unsuccessful.

Israel has reiterated that its acceptance of this proposal is driven by the urgent need to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas.

If Hamas remains unwilling to accept the plan, the current ceasefire framework may lapse without further negotiations, potentially leading to renewed conflict.