Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel would immediately begin negotiations to free Gaza hostages and end the nearly two-year war on terms acceptable to Israel.
Addressing soldiers stationed in Gaza, Netanyahu said he had met with commanders and approved plans to capture Gaza City and destroy Hamas.
“At the same time, I have given instructions to immediately begin negotiations to release all our hostages and end the war on terms acceptable to Israel,” he said. “We are in the decision-making phase.”
The Israeli military continued to press on with the Gaza Strip on Thursday. On Wednesday, it called up 60,000 reservists, suggesting the government is pressing ahead with the plan despite international condemnation.
The mobilization of tens of thousands of troops is likely to take weeks, giving mediators time to try to bridge differences over a new ceasefire proposal that Hamas has accepted, to which Israel has yet to respond.
The plan calls for a 60-day ceasefire, the release of 10 live hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and 18 bodies. In return, Israel would free 200 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel had previously demanded that Hamas release all 50 hostages at once. Israeli officials believe 20 are alive.
