Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that Israel is prepared to continue negotiations for the immediate release of all hostages in the Gaza Strip and for ending the ongoing conflict, but only under terms acceptable to the Israeli state.
“I have issued instructions to immediately begin negotiations for the release of all our hostages and the end of the war on terms acceptable to Israel,” Netanyahu said, adding that the country is currently “in a decisive phase.”
This marks Netanyahu’s first official response to a temporary ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, which Hamas accepted earlier this week, according to Reuters.
During a visit to the Gaza border, Netanyahu emphasized that plans to defeat Hamas and retake Gaza City have not changed, despite calls from Western allies to reconsider these measures.
Over the past ten days, thousands of Palestinians have been displaced as Israeli tanks approached Gaza City in accordance with a security cabinet-approved plan led by Netanyahu.
The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages. Most hostages have been released in previous agreements, while some have died.
Israel has launched a ground, air, and naval counteroffensive, which has resulted in over 62,000 casualties in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.
