Netanyahu Said He Has Final Approved The Plan To Take Over Gaza But Also Sent A Team To Ceasefire Talks
Netanyahu said defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages "go hand in hand."
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has given final approval for Israel to fully take over Gaza while also restarting negotiations with Hamas to end the war and secure the release of all hostages on terms “acceptable to Israel.”
Speaking to soldiers near the Gaza border on Thursday, Aug. 21, Netanyahu said he had traveled there to approve plans for the Israeli military to take full control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas.
“We are at the decisive stage,” he said, adding that “defeating Hamas and securing the release of all hostages go hand in hand.”
This was Netanyahu’s first response to a temporary ceasefire proposal put forward by Egypt and Qatar that Hamas accepted on Monday.
The proposal includes a 60-day ceasefire, during which Hamas would release 10 Israeli hostages and the remains of 18 others, in exchange for Israel freeing about 200 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Under the proposal, the two sides would begin negotiations on a permanent ceasefire that would include the return of the remaining hostages
But Netanyahu has apparently rejected the deal, saying Israel would only “agree to a deal on condition that all the hostages are released in one go.”
About 50 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza, with officials believing 20 are still alive.
Israel's genocide has killed more than 62,192 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023.
Kassy Cho
Cherry Mohamed
Flavie Chen
