From the Liveblog of
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Netanyahu: Israel accepted Witkoff’s plan to extend ceasefire, Hamas rejected it
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In a video statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says US President Donald Trump is “the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House” and “he has shown it by fully backing Israel and putting the pressure to release the hostages where it truly belongs — on Hamas.”
Netanyahu says Israel “has accepted President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff’s plan to extend the temporary ceasefire by 50 days. During that time, we can discuss the conditions for a permanent ceasefire that will end the war in Gaza.
“In Witkoff’s plan, half of the hostages would be released right away and the remaining half would be released if we reach an agreement on a permanent ceasefire,” he says. “Again, Israel has accepted this plan. I accepted this plan. But so far, Hamas has rejected it.”
He says Hamas’s positions so far are “totally unacceptable.” He warns Israel “will take further steps if Hamas continues to hold our hostages.”
He explains that Israel stopped letting goods into Gaza today “because Hamas steals the supplies and prevents the people of Gaza from getting them. It uses these supplies to finance its terror machine.”
The Times of Israel Community.