Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered fresh negotiations to secure the release of all hostages and bring the war in Gaza to an end—but only under terms acceptable to Israel.
In a video statement released Thursday, Netanyahu said Israel is entering a “decisive stage” in the conflict. He stressed that defeating Hamas and freeing hostages must happen together.
Military Push Toward Gaza City
Despite talks of negotiations, Israel’s military is moving ahead with plans to seize Gaza City, which it considers Hamas’s last major stronghold. Netanyahu met with defense chiefs and ministers to approve operational plans aimed at “decisively defeating Hamas.”
On Wednesday, he also directed the military to speed up the timeline for the Gaza City assault. Tens of thousands of reservists have been called up, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have already reached the city’s outskirts.
The Hostage Situation
Israeli officials estimate that about 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive. Mediators from Qatar and Egypt recently proposed a 60-day ceasefire, during which half the hostages would be released. Hamas responded positively earlier this week.
Netanyahu, however, did not mention this proposal directly. Instead, he emphasized that Israel seeks a comprehensive agreement—one that secures the release of all hostages and meets Israel’s conditions for ending the war.
A Delicate Balancing Act
This is Netanyahu’s first public response since Hamas signaled openness to the latest ceasefire plan. While he has ordered “immediate negotiations,” he has not revealed who will lead them or what framework they will follow.
Meanwhile, residents of Gaza City fear that Israel’s planned assault could spark what they describe as “a new war.”
Two Israeli sources say Netanyahu is keeping the negotiations and military planning under strict secrecy.
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