Netanyahu Orders Hostage Negotiations Amidst Escalating Gaza City Offensive Plans

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly ordered immediate negotiations for the release of all hostages and a resolution to the conflict in Gaza, contingent on terms acceptable to Israel. This directive comes as the Israeli military continues to advance its plans to seize control of Gaza City.

Netanyahu’s remarks were made in a video released on Thursday, ahead of a crucial security meeting convened to approve operational strategies for taking Gaza City and decisively defeating Hamas. He emphasized that Israel is at a critical juncture, stating, “We are at the decisive stage,” and reiterated that “defeating Hamas and securing the release of all hostages go hand in hand.”

This marks the first public statement from Netanyahu regarding Gaza ceasefire talks since Hamas reportedly offered a positive response to the latest proposal from Qatari and Egyptian mediators earlier this week. However, the Prime Minister did not specify to whom the order for immediate negotiations was given, nor did he explicitly refer to the current proposal, which outlines a 60-day ceasefire for the release of half of the remaining Israeli hostages.

Israeli officials estimate that approximately 50 hostages are still held in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive. Netanyahu has consistently stressed Israel’s commitment to a comprehensive agreement that secures the release of all hostages and meets the nation’s conditions for ending the conflict. Concurrently, he is pressing forward with a significant assault on Gaza City, having instructed the military on Wednesday to accelerate the operation’s timeline, despite concerns from residents who view the plans as the “beginning of a new war.”

Tens of thousands of reservists have been called up for the impending military operation, and an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman confirmed that the military is already on the outskirts of Gaza City. Netanyahu affirmed, “Today I came to the Gaza Division to approve the plans that the (Israel Defense Forces) presented to me and to the minister of defense for taking control of Gaza City and defeating Hamas.”

Two Israeli sources indicate that Netanyahu is managing these developments with extreme secrecy, refraining from official references to the mediators’ proposal, which leaves open the possibility of a partial agreement.

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