Jerusalem : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that he has instructed officials to begin “immediate negotiations” aimed at securing the release of hostages held in Gaza and bringing an end to the ongoing conflict — while simultaneously approving military plans for a major assault on Gaza City.
“I came to approve the IDF’s plans to take control of Gaza City and to defeat Hamas,” Netanyahu declared during a visit to a military base near the border with the Palestinian enclave.
“At the same time, I instructed to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and an end to the war on terms acceptable to Israel,” he added, though he did not specify the format, location, or timeline for the proposed negotiations.
Despite the announcement, reports suggest that no Israeli delegation is currently scheduled to depart for Doha or Cairo, the traditional hubs of regional mediation. According to Israel’s Ynet news site, citing a senior official, talks have not yet formally begun.
A source within the Israeli government told Xinhua on condition of anonymity that Netanyahu and members of his security cabinet were expected to meet on Thursday night to give final approval for a ground operation targeting Gaza City — the largest urban center in the enclave and a stronghold of Hamas.
The statement comes amid escalating military preparations. The Israeli military has already mobilized 60,000 reservists and announced plans to call up an additional 20,000 in the coming days, signaling a potential escalation in the months-long conflict.
Earlier this week, Hamas accepted a truce proposal brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, which included the release of hostages. However, Israel has yet to issue an official response.
In a speech earlier this week, Netanyahu reiterated five key conditions for ending the offensive: disarmament of Hamas, release of all Israeli hostages, demilitarization of Gaza, continued Israeli security oversight in the enclave, and the establishment of a non-Hamas, non-Palestinian Authority body to administer civilian life in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces intensified their aerial and artillery strikes on Gaza City overnight, killing at least 70 people and injuring 356 others, according to Gaza’s health authorities. Since the conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, the death toll in Gaza has reached 62,192, with over 157,000 people wounded, the authorities reported.
The situation remains volatile, with no immediate breakthrough in sight as both sides weigh the cost of continued conflict against the possibility of a mediated resolution.
