Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 06:21am on 02 Mar 2025,Sunday International
Israel has accepted a U.S. proposal for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan and Passover, as announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The plan, presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, stipulates that half of the hostages held in Gaza, both alive and deceased, will be released on the first day of the ceasefire. The remaining hostages are to be freed upon reaching a permanent truce. This proposal follows the expiration of the initial ceasefire phase, which began on January 19 and facilitated the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. While Israel has agreed to the extension, Hamas has rejected this formulation, advocating instead for immediate negotiations on a permanent ceasefire. Negotiations continue, with mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. involved, but a lasting resolution remains elusive.
