Hamas has declined an Israeli proposal to prolong the initial phase of the Gaza ceasefire, as stated by a senior official. Mahmoud Mardawi told Al Jazeera that the group will only release the remaining Israeli hostages according to the terms of the existing phased agreement.
A plan suggested by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, which Israel has agreed to, would allow the ceasefire to last through Ramadan and Passover, until April 20. Saudi Arabia has criticized Israel’s stance as a method of coercion.
The first phase of the ceasefire, which concluded recently, resulted in a significant increase in humanitarian aid following a period of severe food shortages. While negotiations for the next phase were expected to start a month ago, they have yet to commence. Israel has warned of potential “additional consequences” if Hamas does not comply with its proposal.
Under the US plan, Hamas is expected to release half of the hostages on the first day and the remainder upon reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement. Currently, Hamas holds 59 hostages, with 35 believed to be deceased after the group’s attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities.
According to Palestinian health officials, Israel’s military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians, displacing around 90% of Gaza’s population and devastating its infrastructure and healthcare system. While the US has not provided immediate commentary, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated that Israel is in full coordination with the Trump administration and that the ceasefire will depend on Hamas’s ongoing release of hostages.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has cautioned that any breakdown in the progress made in the past weeks could lead to renewed despair among the population. The humanitarian organization has stated that the ceasefire has preserved numerous lives.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher expressed concern over Israel’s decision, emphasizing that access to aid is protected under international humanitarian law. Most of Gaza’s over two million residents rely on international assistance due to the hardships caused by the conflict. Since the ceasefire began on January 19, around 600 aid trucks have been entering daily, alleviating fears of famine voiced by global experts. Medical charity MSF has accused Israel of using humanitarian aid as leverage, labeling such actions as “unacceptable” and “outrageous.”
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