The Israeli government has approved a temporary extension of the Gaza ceasefire for the next six weeks, covering the Muslim Ramadan and Jewish Passover periods.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office made the announcement shortly after the first phase of the previously agreed ceasefire expired at midnight on Saturday.

Netanyahu's office said that under a ceasefire proposal by US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, half of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza - both alive and dead - would be released on the first day.

The remaining hostages would be freed "if an agreement on a permanent ceasefire is reached".