Hamas Kaji US Proposal Extends Ceasefire Until April

The condition of Gazans / WHO DOKs

JAKARTA - Hamas is reviewing the United States' proposal to restore the Gaza ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israe intensified military operations to pressure the Palestinian militant group to release the remaining Israeli hostages.

The US special envoy Steve Witkoff's "bridge" plan, presented last week, aims to extend the ceasefire until April, after Ramadan and Easter, to give time for negotiations over the permanent cessation of hostilities.

Three days after Israel effectively canceled a two-month ceasefire, Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said the military intensified its air, land and sea attacks and would also evacuate civilians to the southern part of Gaza.

As reported by Reuters on Friday, March 21, Katz said Israel would continue its operations until Hamas releases more hostages and is completely defeated.

Israeli airstrikes caused serious damage to Hamas this week, killing the head of Gaza's government and other top officials. Meanwhile Palestinian and Israeli sources said Hamas showed they could bear heavy losses and keep fighting and ruling.

Hamas said it was still debating Witkoff's proposal and other ideas, with the aim of reaching an agreement on the release of prisoners, ending the war, and securing a full withdrawal of the Israeli military from the Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters Egypt had also submitted a proposed deployment, but Hamas had not yet responded.

The official declined to provide details on the plan, which he said was being considered.

Two Egyptian security sources say Egypt has proposed a schedule for the release of remaining hostages alongside a deadline for Israel's full withdrawal from Gaza with US guarantees.

The sources said the US had signaled preliminary approval while Hamas and Israel's response was expected on Friday.

The first phase of the ceasefire ended earlier this month, but Israel and Hamas were unable to address differences over the provisions to launch a second phase. Hamas postponed the release of further hostages and Israeli military action was then resumed.

After two months of relative calm, Gazans fled again to flee under Israel's new and completely ground and air operations, accompanied by a halt to aid deliveries.

Katz said the longer Hamas continued to refuse to release the remaining hostages, the more territory would be lost.

Of the more than 250 people who were initially arrested in the Hamas attack in October 2023 in Israel, 59 people are still in Gaza, 24 of whom are thought to be still alive.