Reports from the Israeli press suggest that United States President Donald Trump’s Middle East Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff, has put forward a new proposal during ceasefire negotiations in Gaza in the Qatari capital Doha. According to the proposal, the ceasefire will be extended for 50 days and there will be a change in the number of prisoners to be released.

Israel’s state television channel KAN reported that Witkoff presented a proposal to the parties, suggesting a limited prisoner exchange in return for the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The proposal was said to also include negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. The new proposal indicates that the ceasefire will be extended for 50 days, and the number of prisoners to be released will depend on the negotiations.

Israeli television channel “Channel 12” revealed that after realizing that the initial proposal, which called for the release of more prisoners (10), was not feasible, Witkoff made a new offer to mediators. This new offer involved the release of 5 prisoners unharmed, including all American citizens held captive in the Gaza Strip, and the delivery of 9 prisoners’ bodies.

CEASEFIRE OFFER FOR 50 DAYS
According to the reports, Witkoff offered a 50-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, including the Ramadan month and the sacred Passover holiday celebrated by Jews, along with the release of Palestinian prisoners. An Israeli source mentioned that while they desired the release of more prisoners, they accepted the proposal, stating that “The ball is now in Hamas’ court.”

Hamas reportedly insisted that all attacks on Gaza cease and demanded a commitment from Israel to completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Channel 12 reported that there are 59 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, with estimates from the Israeli military suggesting 35 are deceased and 24 are alive.

An article in The Jerusalem Post stated that Witkoff’s new ceasefire proposal covers a period from March 1 to April 20, during which negotiations will continue. The report mentioned that an Israeli source expressed optimism about reaching an agreement and said that the negotiation team remaining in Qatar was a positive sign.

HAMAS HAD ANNOUNCED PROGRESS IN THE NEGOTIATIONS
The first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that went into effect on January 19 in Gaza ended on March 2 after 42 days. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government blocked the second phase negotiations scheduled to begin on February 3.

Israel halted the entry of any humanitarian aid materials to Gaza on March 2 and cut off electricity supply to the region on March 9. It was reported that on March 10, the Israeli negotiating team arrived in Doha, Qatar, without the authority to discuss a permanent ceasefire. United States President Donald Trump’s Middle East Special Envoy Witkoff also participated in the negotiations.

Hamas had announced that negotiations related to the ceasefire agreement were progressing positively with the mediators in Doha.