By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
SvennoJ on 02 March 2025
Edit Thread

Israeli negotiators sought to extend phase one, secure release of 5 captives

Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic, quoting sources close to the discussions, have revealed several details on what happened over the past 48 hours between the Israeli delegation and mediators:

  • Israel demanded Hamas release five living captives and 10 bodies of deceased captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and increased aid to the Gaza Strip.
  • It also sought to extend the first phase of the ceasefire by a week.
  • Israel requested, through mediators, Hamas’s response to their proposal before the end of Friday.
  • Hamas informed the mediators that it rejected the Israeli proposal and considered it a violation of what was agreed upon in the ceasefire.


Netanyahu says Israel adopting Witkoff proposal on temporary truce, release of remaining captives

Netanyahu has told his cabinet that Israel is adopting US envoy Steve Witkoff’s outline for a temporary ceasefire and is “fully coordinated” with Trump and his administration.

He said Hamas is currently holding 59 captives: 24 alive and 35 dead.

Netanyahu said that on the first day of Witkoff’s plan, half of the captives would be released and at the end – if agreement is reached – the remaining abductees would be released in one go.

Witkoff has defined his proposal as a “corridor for negotiations” on phase two, he said.

The Israeli leader claimed that, according to the original agreement, Israel may return to fighting after the 42nd day of the ceasefire if it feels negotiations are ineffective. He said this stance has received the backing of the Trump administration.


Egypt urges ‘full implementation’ of Gaza ceasefire

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has pressed for the “full implementation” of the Gaza ceasefire, calling on the European Union to pressure Israel to enforce it.

“There is no alternative to the faithful and full implementation by all parties of what was signed last January,” Abdelatty said at a news conference in Cairo.

He urged the EU to exert “maximum pressure on the parties, especially the Israeli party, regarding commitment to the ceasefire agreement”.

Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining Israeli captives all at once in phase two of the deal but only in return for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.