Netanyahu: I Have Ordered Negotiations For the Release of All Hostages

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement today (Thursday) regarding the approval of IDF operational plans to conquer Gaza City and eliminate the remaining Hamas forces therein:

"I came to approve the IDF's plans to take control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas. Simultaneously, I instructed to begin immediate negotiations on the release of all our hostages and ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel.

"We are in the decisive stage. I came today to the Gaza Division to approve the plans that the IDF presented to me and to the Defense Minister for taking control of Gaza City and defeating Hamas.

"I greatly appreciate the mobilization of the reserve soldiers, and of course the regular army, for this vital goal."

He added that "Simultaneously, I instructed to begin immediate negotiations on the release of all our hostages and ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel. These two things - defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages - go hand in hand."

Hamas, following Netanyahu's rejection of the partial hostage deal proposal approved by the terrorist group under pressure of the threatened invasion, released the following, defiant statement previously:

"While the organization announced its acceptance of the mediators' latest proposal, the Zionist government insists on continuing its war while escalating its operations in Gaza City. Netanyahu's disregard for the mediators' proposal and his lack of response prove that he constitutes the real obstacle to any agreement, that he does not care about the lives of the hostages and is not serious about their return. The operation will fail just as its predecessors did, Israel will not achieve its objectives and the occupation of Gaza will not be a picnic."