'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he has instructed the start of immediate negotiations aimed at securing the release of the remaining 'Israeli' captives in Gaza.

 

The announcement follows the defense ministry’s approval of a plan calling up approximately 60,000 reservists to support military operations targeting Hamas’s final strongholds in Gaza City.

 

“I have come to approve the IDF’s (military’s) plans to take control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a video statement during a visit with the Gaza division. “At the same time, I have instructed to immediately begin negotiations for the release of all our hostages and the end of the war under conditions acceptable to Israel.”

 

Mediators have been awaiting an official response from 'Israel' to their latest ceasefire proposal, which Hamas accepted earlier this week.

 

“I greatly appreciate the commitment of the reserve soldiers, and of course the regular army, for this vital mission,” Netanyahu added. “These two matters, defeating Hamas and releasing all our hostages, go hand in hand.”

 

'Israel' and Hamas have conducted indirect negotiations throughout the nearly two-year aggression, resulting in two brief ceasefires during which 'Israeli' captives were exchanged for Palestinian political prisoners.