Israel says no direct transition between Gaza cease-fire phases, citing US assurance
Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar (L) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio upon the latter's arrival at Israel's Ben Guiron Airport in Lod on February 15, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Saturday that there is no direct transition between phases of the Gaza cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement, claiming this was guaranteed by the United States in a side letter.
Saar made the comments during a joint press conference with Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman in West Jerusalem.
When asked about the Gaza cease-fire and prisoner exchange agreement, Saar claimed Israel had accepted a proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East Special Representative Steve Witkoff.
The proposal would have extended the cease-fire in Gaza for 50 days during Ramadan and the Jewish Passover holiday (April 12-20) in exchange for the release of hostages. According to Saar, Hamas rejected this proposal.
The foreign minister asserted Israel paused humanitarian aid entry into the Gaza Strip for this reason, claiming they had fulfilled their commitments until the last day.
Saar referenced “a side letter from the former Joe Biden administration that clearly states there is no direct transition between the phases of the agreement.”
He maintained that Israel is ready to continue negotiations, including the second phase, in exchange for the release of hostages.
Saar said he also briefed his Croatian counterpart on these matters.
Background on Israel-Hamas cease-fire agreement
The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel went into effect on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 12:15 p.m. local time.
Under the agreement, the Netzarim Corridor was opened on Monday, Jan. 27, allowing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to move from south to north. The Israeli army withdrew from the Netzarim Corridor on Feb. 9.
The Rafah Border Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt was opened on Feb. 1 for the evacuation of the sick and wounded, following eight months of Israeli occupation.
During the prisoner exchanges in the first phase of the agreement, more than 1,700 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli prisons, while 33 Israeli hostages were handed over from Gaza—25 alive and 8 deceased.
Additionally, five Thai hostages in Gaza were freed.
The 42-day first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement ended yesterday.
Negotiations for the second phase of the agreement were supposed to begin on Feb. 3. According to Israeli media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blocked the start of second-phase negotiations.
