Israel has taken action regarding the ceasefire proposal in Gaza by the U.S. Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed the Israeli delegation to prepare for negotiation talks under the offer of U.S. representative Steve Witkoff. Hamas, in a statement made yesterday, announced its intention to release Edan Alexander, an Israeli soldier who is also a U.S. citizen, and considered it as a positive step, stating that no new or side agreements were being discussed.

A statement from the Israeli Prime Ministry Office indicated that Netanyahu held a meeting about ceasefire negotiations with the delegation that returned from Doha, the capital of Qatar, including ministers and security officials. The statement mentioned that after the meeting, Netanyahu gave instructions to prepare for negotiation talks under the framework of Witkoff’s proposal, which foresees the immediate release of half of the 11 Israeli captives and deceased captives in Gaza.

NEW CEASEFIRE PROPOSAL FROM THE US Israeli media reported that Witkoff had presented a new proposal within the ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza in Doha. The Israeli state television KAN reported that Witkoff had previously proposed a 60-day extension of the ceasefire in exchange for releasing 10 Israeli captives. Israel claimed to have accepted this plan, while Hamas reportedly rejected it, leading to the announcement that all humanitarian aid shipments to the Gaza Strip were halted.

CEASEFIRE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM HAMAS However, hours before Witkoff’s statements, Hamas officials had announced the acceptance of the U.S. offer. Hamas also communicated its readiness to deliver the body of the U.S. citizen Israeli soldier Edan Alexander and four hostages to Israel. Hamas Spokesman Hazim Kasım stated, “By announcing our intention to release U.S. citizen Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, we made a positive move. We are not speaking here of new or side agreements but progressing toward the implementation of various stages of the ceasefire agreement.” Kasım expressed that threats and pressure tactics towards Palestinian negotiators would not yield positive results and articulated their desire for all captives to be released and a permanent ceasefire to be established in Gaza.

CEASEFIRE PUZZLE IN GAZA Trump’s Middle East Envoy Witkoff was in Qatar this week. According to Israeli officials, Witkoff had previously suggested extending the first phase of the ceasefire until mid-April. This extension entails the release of half of the hostages in Gaza on the day the agreement comes into effect, with the rest to be released upon reaching a permanent ceasefire deal. However, Hamas insisted on moving to the second phase in the mediation conducted by Qatar and Egypt rather than prolonging the first phase. It was reported that a Hamas delegation went to Cairo, the capital of Egypt, to monitor the ceasefire negotiation developments. The first stage of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Gaza ended in early March before transitioning to the second stage.