The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, under which dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees were freed, reached its expiration date on Saturday — with Israel and Hamas split on what comes next.
In essence, the Israelis want phase one to continue – the exchange of hostages, alive and deceased, in return for the continued release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, and the flow of higher volumes of aid into Gaza. There are thought to be 24 Israeli hostages still alive in Gaza.
But Hamas insists that negotiations include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza they still occupy and a permanent end to the conflict, as envisaged in the second phase of the deal.
Following a consultation with ministers on Saturday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in the early hours of Sunday that Israel backs a US proposal to temporarily extend the current ceasefire during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover.
According to that framework, the ceasefire extension would start with a significant release of half of the remaining Israeli living and deceased hostages in Gaza. The statement said: “On the first day of the framework, half of the living and deceased hostages will be released and upon its conclusion – if agreement is reached on a permanent ceasefire – the remaining living and deceased hostages will be released.”
Hamas would not comment on the Israeli prime minister’s office statement on Sunday.
Credit: cnn.com
