(Reuters) -Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned on Thursday that Israel will start speedy negotiations for the discharge of all hostages held in Gaza and an finish to the almost two-year-old struggle on phrases acceptable to Israel.
Talking to troopers serving in Gaza, Netanyahu mentioned he was assembly commanders to approve plans for capturing Gaza Metropolis and defeating Hamas.
“On the identical time I’ve issued directions to start speedy negotiations for the discharge of all our hostages and an finish to the struggle on phrases acceptable to Israel,” he mentioned, including: “We’re within the decision-making section.”
The Israeli army maintained its strain on Gaza Metropolis into Thursday.
On Wednesday, the army referred to as up 60,000 reservists in an indication that the federal government was urgent forward with the plan, regardless of worldwide condemnation.
Calling up tens of hundreds of reservists is prone to take weeks, giving time for mediators to try to bridge gaps over a brand new momentary ceasefire proposal that Hamas has accepted, however the Israeli authorities has but to formally reply to.
The proposal requires a 60-day ceasefire and the discharge of 10 residing hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas militants and of 18 our bodies. In flip, Israel would launch about 200 long-serving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The Israeli authorities has said that all the remaining 50 hostages held by militants in Gaza have to be launched directly. Israeli officers consider that round 20 of them are nonetheless alive.
(Reporting by Mayaan Lubell and Howard Goller; Enhancing by Ros Russell)