Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would approve the military’s plan to take control of Gaza City, while also directing the immediate resumption of negotiations to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
Amid rising tensions in West Asia, Netanyahu stated that he has instructed officials to begin talks aimed at freeing all hostages and bringing the conflict to an end. However, he emphasized that the war would conclude “on terms acceptable to Israel.”
“I have ordered negotiations for the release of all hostages and an end to the war in Gaza on terms acceptable to Israel,” Netanyahu reiterated.
He added, "At the same time, I have instructed to immediately begin negotiations for the release of all our hostages and the end of the war under conditions acceptable to Israel."
This comes a day after the defence ministry approved a plan to call around 60,000 reservists to help take over Gaza City, the final stronghold of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Without providing any details of what the talks would entail, the Israeli PM said, "These two matters -- defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages -- go hand in hand."
Hamas condemned Israel's Gaza take over plan and said that it showed its "blatant disregard" for the efforts of the mediators to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
"Today's announcement by the terrorist occupation army of the start of an operation against Gaza City and its nearly one million residents and displaced persons... demonstrates... a blatant disregard for the efforts made by the mediators," the militant group said in a statement.
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