Israel Accepts US Proposal for Temporary Ceasefire During Ramadan and Passover, Awaiting Hamas Response
Jerusalem, March 2 (IANS) – Israel has agreed to a US-proposed temporary ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced in a statement released around midnight between Saturday and Sunday.
The US proposal, presented by Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, aims to facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas while allowing further negotiations on a long-term ceasefire. The plan includes the return of approximately half of the 59 Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, on the first day of the ceasefire. The remaining hostages would be released at the end of the ceasefire period, provided an agreement on a permanent truce is reached, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
The holy month of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide, began on Friday, March 1, and will continue until March 30. The Jewish holiday of Passover will be observed from April 12 to April 20.
The Israeli government emphasized that the ceasefire proposal was accepted with the primary objective of securing the return of its hostages. However, it noted that Hamas has yet to accept the terms. “While Hamas has repeatedly violated the agreement, Israel is not in violation,” the statement read, reaffirming Israel’s commitment to negotiations should Hamas agree to the proposal.
The statement further underscored that Israel reserves the right to resume military operations if it determines that negotiations are not yielding effective results. The initial 42-day phase of the ceasefire-hostage agreement expired on Saturday.
With the ceasefire now contingent on Hamas’s response, diplomatic efforts are expected to intensify in the coming days to secure a breakthrough in the ongoing conflict.
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