Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday he had issued instructions for negotiations to be held for the release of all hostages held in Gaza, even as he moved toward approving plans for a military offensive aimed at occupying Gaza City.
“I came today to the Gaza Division in order to approve the plans that the IDF presented to me and to the defense minister for taking control of Gaza City and for defeating Hamas,” Netanyahu said in the message, referring to Israeli occupation forces.
While giving the go ahead to Israel’s planned occupation of Gaza City, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he has instructed negotiators to begin talks to end the war “under conditions acceptable to Israel.” pic.twitter.com/oxHi5zqT3A
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“At the same time, I instructed to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and for ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel.”
A spokesperson for Netanyahu’s office told The Times of Israel shortly afterward that there were no plans “at this stage” to send an Israeli delegation for talks.
A senior Israeli official later said anonymously that “once a location for negotiations is determined, the Israeli premier will order the dispatch of an Israeli delegation.”
The announcement by Netanyahu came several days after Hamas said it had agreed to a ceasefire proposal that would see half of the Israeli captives released and kick off talks to end the war and free the rest.
Source: Israeli media (edited by Al-Manar)
